HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-0605 Tree MIN
Ashland Tree Commission
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Minutes, June 5 2003
Call toOrder: The meeting was called to order at 5:05pm by Chair Rich
Whitall. Commissioners in attendance were Bryan Holley, January Jennings,
Ted Loftus, Bryan Nelson, Jonathan Uto and Laurie Sager. Staff present was
Robbin Pearce from Community Development.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes for May were approved with corrections.
Bryan Nelson moved and Laurie Sager seconded. Motion passed
unanimously.
Welcome Guests: Paula Brown, Public Works Director was present to
discuss CIP (Capital Improvement Projects). John McLaughlin, Planning
Director and Adam Hanks, Code Compliance Officer were present to discuss
a number of Tree Commission projects. Fred Stockwell was present to
observe the commission meeting. Neil Stewart was present for his Planning
Action (PA2003-052 – California Street). Ken Khosroabadi and family were
present to present his Planning Action (PA 2002-040 Mobile Station)
Paula Brown reviewed the 2003-04 CIP list. Projects that the Tree
Commission might want to be aware of or review include:
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Tolman Creek Road (Jim Olson) – cottonwoods will be kept. Tree
Commission should look at this project for tree impacts.
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Central Ashland Bikeway - $600,00 grant; opportunity to be
creative; comments should go directly to Paula.
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Tolman and Siskiyou – safety improvement and street scene.
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Downtown – pedestrian safety and lights
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Misc Sidewalks – include Nevada, Strawberry Lane and Tolman
Creek Road.
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Wastewater – line from North Mountain.
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Water Quality (Pieter Smeenk) – Riverwalk
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Siskiyou – the seed will be changed to sod. All work will stop until
after the fourth.
Tree Commission recommended the Fire Station tree wells be dugout and
reprepared. Paula will discuss this with Keith Woodley.
John McLaughlin
*Tree Protection – There have been some wording changes. If the
Tree Commission feels they are alright the signs will be printed and then
will be ready to be distributed with verification permits. Discussion included
including watering as a part of tree protection and laminating the signs so
they can be reused.
*Professional Designers Ordinance Amendment – The language is
being amended. The adoptive process should take approximately three
months. Tentative timeline is: August back to Tree Commission for review;
September – joint study session and review by the Planning Commission
and October to the City Council for adoption.
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Project Site Review Procedure – Because construction sites are
more problematic and it could be easy to cross the liability line and
there is confusion on the part of the applicant or the construction
personnel as to the outcome of the “inspection” discussion it was
decided to develop and/or incorporate a permission or approval
from the property owner or the applicant to enter the property.
Discussion included input from guests and commissioners. The
form could include the options: approval, no approval or that the
visit should be arranged by appointment. Also, permission should
be granted for periods during the time of the pre-hearing or during
the project.
The discussion also included the original intent of the review (and
attempt to maintain canopy cover); the opportunity to educate the
public (applicant, siteworkers, neighbors) and the commissioners
as to what works - not just plant material but also conditions; pre-
application reviews.
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Heritage Tree forms – Paul Nolte has reviewed the forms. They
will come back to the Commission for review. Discussion included
keeping the program voluntary; establishing an incentive in order
to place this restriction on the deed. Incentives included increase in
property value and money for maintenance and watering.
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Memorial Trees – Tree Commissioners are looking into creating a
voluntary memorial tree registry. John McLaughlin supported this
project. Bryan Nelson will present more at the August meeting.
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Tree Ordinance Update – Staff should have forms (permit, matrix,
Q&A handout) ready by July. McLaughlin stated staff is keeping
track of the amount of time implementation requires. This type of
workload increase will be discussed in an upcoming Council study
session. Staff shared that the number of applications aren’t so large
as the complexity of the applications and the number of questions
about ordinance relevance. Discussion included the
Commissioners being available to help with permit field reviews
and a proposal for a memo to Administration, the Mayor and
Council for increase in staff.
Old Business
A. Goals
1. Heritage Trees – This item was discussed under Guests
2. Urban Forester – A committee was formed to draft a new proposal
to tie together issues of Fire, Public Works, Parks and Community
Development. The Committee consists of Laurie Sager, Bryan
Holley and Ted Loftus. They will report in August.
3. Review of Goals: Primary Goals: Ordinance is complete. Heritage
Trees should remain on the list; Arbor Week transition – stay on
the list. Staff is working with Administration to facilitate this
transition. The change in the utility stuffer/City Source availability
may have an impact on the new timeline. Secondary Goals:
Education Outreach should be moved to Primary. New Goal
Setting date –
B. Database of Memorial Trees – This item was discussed under Guests.
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C. Summer Schedule – July 7 (to compensate for the holiday on the 4)
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will be Planning Actions only; August 7 will be a regular agenda.
D. Other – There were no other topics.
New Business
A. Site Reviews:
1. Planning Action 2002 –040 Khosroabadi on Ashland Street – the
mobile station. Details for plantings along carwash should be
submitted based on minimum standards. Transition to sod should
include transition in the irrigation system. Have a water audit to
ensure plants will live. Turf should be drought tolerant. Plans should
be resubmitted according to minimum standards.
2. Planning Action 2003-052 Neil Stewart on California Street. We
recommend the mature landscaping be maintained and the sidewalk
be placed along the street. Tree protection including mulching and
fencing should be installed to protect the Elm along the NE side of the
property. Submit a tree protection plan based on the ordinance 18.61
and ensure sidewalk design along southside is modified to protect the
cedar.
B. Other
1. Election of new chair: Ted Loftus accepted the nomination and
was unanimously voted in as new chair.
2. Forest Lands Commission – January Jennings will replace Rich
Whitall as the liaison to the Forest Lands Commission.
3. It was reported the tree in the middle of the front of the Park will
be replaced with a thread leaf maple. It was recommended the
trunk of the previous tree be cut longitudinally and used as an
educational tool.
Announcements – There were no announcements
Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.