ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION

MINUTES

June 9, 2011

CALL TO ORDER –Ashland Tree Commission meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. on June 9, 2011, in the Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

May 5, 2011 Tree Commission Minutes – Townsend motioned/Roland seconded to approve the May 5^th, 2011 regular meeting minutes Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed.  The minutes were approved as submitted.

WELCOME GUESTS

Welcome – Michael Pina, Assistant Planner

Michael will be the new staff liaison for the Tree Commission beginning in July, replacing Amy Gunter. When Michael was in Baker City he was the Staff Liaison to their commission. The Commission welcomed Michael. 

PUBLIC FORUM

None

TYPE I PLANNING REVIEW

PLANNING ACTION:        2011-00686

SUBJECT PROPERTY:     Fourth and C Street Apartments

APPLICANT:                       Mari McWilliams                    

DESCRIPTION: A request for a Tree Removal Permit to remove 14-inch DBH Box Elder located behind the apartment complex at the intersection of Fourth and C streets, adjacent to the parking lot.   

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION: Low-Density Multi-family

ZONING: R-2; ASSESSOR’S MAP: 39 1E 09Ac TAX LOT: 5201

Site Visits – all

There are numerous trees on the property and the commission suggested that the applicants plant a new tree on the parcel in the courtyard to get a tree started since the Ash that is there currently has anthracnose.

The Tree Commission has recommended the following for the above planning action:

1)   Recommends replanting on-site in the courtyard.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Commissioner Training – The Tree Commission binder that Michael and Amy put together has the relevant Municipal Code sections, the Site Design and Use Standards and the Recommended Street Tree Guide which all pertain to the Tree Commission’s review of Planning Actions. Amy informed the Commissioners that they are a recommending body and their recommendations may or may not become conditions of approval. All recommendations should relate to the Criteria of Approval which can be found on the back of the front page of each individual planning action. For example specific plant recommendations would not because it does not relate back to the criteria of the Land Use Ordinance, but removal of noxious vegetation from the trees on site would as that is a specific recommendation within the Tree Ordinance 18.61.

The Commission discussed the recently adopted Water Resources Protection Zones ordinance (18.63). That code has specific planting requirements and the Commissioners. Modifications to the approved plant list must be approved by the Commission.  

The Commission also discussed having discussions with other volunteer groups like the Forest Lands Commission, and other staff to keep up to date about the what is happening in the community. For instance, the development of the Green Streets Standards, the Water Master Plan or the FireWise Community information from the Fire Department would be beneficial to the Tree Commission.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to speak with Bill Harrington regarding Medford’s implementation of a Street Tree Planting program.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

Liaison Reports

Anne Thayer, Park Department: Anne recently attended the Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference. This year’s theme was Trees for Healthy Streams, the conference revolved around storm water issues and how trees and landscaping can be used to improve stormwater facilities. They discussed rainwater harvesting, bio-cleaning, Green Street programs, bio-retention and bio-remediation and creating a ‘rain-garden’ strips. The Tree Commission indicated they would like to provide input into the Green Street plan that the City of Ashland is developing. Also discussed was the urban heat island effect, increasing the

nutrient recycling – keeping leaves and the nutrients they provide on the ground.  

Interesting programs were the Portland Treebate program – a utility credit is given to people that plant trees. Friends of Trees has an Oregon Department Of Transportation tree planting program

      New Items

Groasis box – Dan Bish from Plant Oregon is interested in going in on ½ of the order for Groasis boxes. Amy will begin looking into purchasing the boxes.

ADJOURNMENT– The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Amy Gunter, Assistant Planner