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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-0304 Tree MIN Ashland Street Tree Commission Minutes, March 4, 1999 1. The meeting was called to order at 5 :OOp.m. by Chairman Rich Whitall. In addition to the chair Commissioners present included Donn Todt, Kerry Kencairn, Bryan Nelson and January Jennings. Council liaison Cameron Hanson and staff Robbin Pearce were also in attendance. II. Minutes were approved as submitted. III. Guests in attendance were Jerome White, architect for P A 99-020; Evan Archard, developer, Greg Covey, landscape designer and Bill Emerson, project designer for PA 99-021 and Paul and Kris Meyer, applicants for P A 99-023. IV. Old Business A. Recommended Street Tree List (RSTL) - The second draft with corrections previously submitted by Commissioners was submitted to the Commissioners. Staff requested Commissioners review this draft for any additional changes. January Jennings will create the pages for the 'missing tress'. Rich will write the "thanks" to January. Bryan Nelson brought up the issue of conifers as street trees. He recommended the Recommended Street Tree List should include a statement stating conifers have an appropriate location and the Tree Commission would make a site by site decision. Staff recommended Bryan draft wording to submit for the April Tree Commission packet. Donn Todt recommended including the list of conifers under 'Non-Recommended' Street Trees which includes the statement 'The following trees may be of value as street trees when properly located and cared for. However, they may cause or be subject to the indicated problems.' At the next meeting the Commissioners will review the wording and submit it to the Planning Commission. The Commissioners should have (RSTL) changes to staff by the 3 }St. The next and final draft should include graphics. After 'final draft' changes copies will be reviewed by community members. B. Matrix - Bryan Nelson will complete the matrix after the RSTL is finalized. C. Arbor Week Planning - I)Donn Todt reported the plaque for the Tree of the Year has been ordered. 2) Robbin Pearce reported she met with Terry Skibby and they came up with the following categories for photo displays: *cityscape, *plaza, *miscellaneous: Safeway, Briscoe cypress, downtown street trees, where the pines meet the palms and *the boulevard. 3)Kerry Kencairn reported that the drawing is almost completed. The Commissioners created the list of Arbor Week activities: *tree of the year plaque ceremony, *Mayor's proclamation at City Council on April 6th, *Historic tree photo display at City Hall, *Coloring Insert in the Tidings and displayed in the East Main Street businesses, *a list of tree books will be made available for the schools including the opportunity to display the Tree City USA flag, *N. Mountain park activity and *Tree planting in the park with a high school class. Kerry will get the drawing to January. January will work with staff to produce the insert. The Tree Free paper will be delivered to City Hall. Conservation Commission may share in the cost of the paper. The camera ready copy will be produced in house. 4 ) Staff informed the Commissioners that the Conservation Commission wanted to plant a tree at the new Youth Works building in memory of Ken Hagen. The Conservation Commission was suggesting a dawn redwood which was known to be one of Ken's favorite trees. Discussion included the 'tempormentality' of the Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Dorm Todt said he would suggest a visually appropriate location and a possible species substitute (possibly a bald cypress). Kerry Kencairn suggested a ginkgo. There is a chance the tree could be planted during Arbor Week. 5)Tree planting in the park - January Jennings will work with a high school teacher and coordinate that activity with Donn Todt. 6)Rich Whitall presented a list of curriculum available through the National Arbor Day Foundation. Rich suggested the purchase of this curriculum and availablity to the public schools be from the Tree Commission's 1999\00 budget be discussed at the May meeting. Kerry Kencairn also suggested discussing and writing a letter to the National Arbor Day Foundation concerning the appropriateness of their free tree giveaway program. This item will also be on the May agenda. D. Formal Goal Setting - This item was tabled until April. E. Update of February Planning Actions - I)Bixby on Siskiyou - Revised plans have not been submitted yet. 2)Warren - This Planning Action was denied by the Planning Commission. F. Other Old Business - There was no additional old business V. New Business A. Site Reviews: l.P A 99-019 - (Ashland Clrristian Fellowship) The Nandina on the corner needs to be replaced with a lower stature ground cover due to the slope of Hersey Street.. Larger Street trees such as Red Oak or California Black Oaks were recommended on Oak street. Also, winter creeper was pointed out to be problematic as a ground cover. i\shhmd Tree Commission Minutes, ~\rarch. 1999 2 Ashlalld Tree CommiSSion i\-l~nllles. Match, 1999 , 2.PA99-021 - (Holly Street) If the Ponderosa Pine in the alley is to be saved the proposed cut is not feasible. Construction and especially pre construction tree protection is important. Grass pavers on both sides of the tree would help. However if the parking space is moved to the interior of the development and alternative construction occurs at the tree site the tree has much higher chances of survival and grass pavers would not be necessary. 3.PA 99-023 - (Benson Way) Please specify tree varieties. However consider other large tree varieties in addition to the Maples: Lindens, Tilias, Oaks, and/or Locust. Also, consider Prunus Lusitanica (Portugese Laurel) for a hedgerow. And consider mixing incense cedar with Lelands. 4. P A99-020 - (A St) This plan included a nice variety of plant material. However, the tree wells for Acer Rubrum should be dug deeper. Keep in mind Acer Rubrum has been known to be problematic with lifting sidewalks. Run the root barriers parallel to the sidewalk rather than around the rootball. And try to match the Red Maple variety already on the street. B. Council Presentation - The date is November 16th. This item will also be scheduled for the May agenda. C. Other New Business - Staff explained the City would like to develop water conservation signage for the straw bale building at the High School. The sign would show the landscape and irrigation plan. Staff asked the Commissioners to review the plan once again to recommend any plant material changes which would be the best example of water conserving landscape material. The following recommendations were made: *be careful with hybrid tea roses or ones which require more spraying, *Include a variety of rockrose, *Incorporate Oregon grape and *hornbeams. The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m.