Agendas and Minutes

Tree Management Advisory Committee (View All)

Minutes

Agenda
Thursday, November 05, 2009

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 TreeCommission 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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