1.      Call to Order and Roll Call

2.      Adoption of Minutes of the July 27, 2007 Urban Forestry Council Regular Meeting (Explanatory Document: Draft Minutes of the July 27, 2007 Regular Meeting) (Discussion and Action)

3.      Rodent and Vegetation Control. Ms. Helen Zverina, Department of Public Health will explain the Department of Public Health policy for managing vegetation when rodent control is needed. Council members may ask questions and discuss management options (Informational Presentation and Discussion).

Sponsor: Member Mike Boss

Presenter: Ms. Helen Zverina, Department of Public Health

4.      Hearing on Nomination for Landmark Tree Status. The Council will hold a hearing to determine whether the Coast Live Oak Tree located at 4124 – 23^rd Street meets the criteria for designation as a landmark tree (Explanatory Documents: Nomination form, Landmark Tree Committee Evaluation Forms, Written Summary of Findings, Pictures, Supporting Letters and Petition) (Discussion and Action).

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Council will vote on whether to approve or reject the nomination and shall adopt written findings to support its decision.  The Council will forward approved nominations to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration.

 Presenter: Landmark Tree Committee Chair Mike Boss

5.      Urban Forestry Council Bylaws Amendment--Council members will discuss and vote on a possible Bylaws change Resolution to combine the functions of the Planning and Policy and Funding Committees and vote on additional recommendations for changes to the Council’s/Committees’ meeting schedule and structure. (Explanatory document: Draft Resolution for proposed Bylaws change and Notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment) (Discussion and Action)

Sponsor & Presenter: Chair Terry Milne

6.      Political Activity by City Officers and Employees Memorandum and the November 2007 Ballot Measure: “Parking for Neighborhoods Initiative.”  The Council will discuss legal requirements for political activity by City Officers and Employees as it relates to opposing or supporting ballot initiatives. (Explanatory Document:  “Political Activity by City Officers and Employees” Memorandum) (Discussion) 

Sponsor & Presenter:  Chair Terry Milne

7.      Process for Monthly Reports/Updates to the Board of Supervisors.  The Council will discuss ideas for providing updates and monthly reports on their activities to the Board of Supervisors (Discussion).

Sponsors & Presenters:  Member Carla Short and Vice-Chair Kelly Quirke

8.      Landmark Tree Ordinance Amendments.  The Council will hear an Informational Report on future proposed amendments to the Landmark Tree Ordinance (Explanatory Document:  Landmark Tree Ordinance) (Informational Report and Discussion)

Sponsor & Presenter:  Chair Terry Milne

9.      Selection and Interview Process for the Urban Forestry Council’s Environmental Assistant Position.

Presenter:  Chair Terry Milne

10.  Committee Reports: (Informational Reports and Discussion)

• Funding Committee, Chair,

The next meeting will be on September 4, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. at 11 Grove Street.

·         Planning & Policy Committee, Chair, Carla Short

The next meeting will be on September 20, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at 11 Grove Street.

·         Landmark Tree Committee, Chair, Mike Boss

The next meeting will be on September 11, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 421.

11.  Chair’s Announcements: Terry Milne, Chair, Urban Forestry Council (Information and Discussion).

12.  New Business (Information and Discussion).

13.  Public Comment:  Members of the public may address the Council on matters that are within the Council’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.

14.  Adjournment

Public Comment

At this time, members of the public may address the Council on items of interest that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council but are not on today’s agenda.  Public comment will be taken following each agendized item.  Each member of the public may address the Council for up to three minutes, unless otherwise announced by the Chair. If it is demonstrated that the comments by the public will exceed 15 minutes, the Chair may continue Public Comment to another time during the meeting.

The Brown Act forbids the Council from taking action or discussing any item or issue not appearing on the posted agenda.  This rule applies to issues raised in public comment as well.   In response to public comment, not on an agendized item, the Council is limited to:

1.             Briefly responding to statements made or questions posed by members of the public, or

2.             Request staff to report back on a matter at a subsequent meeting, or

3.             Directing staff to place the item or issue on a future agenda  (Government Code Section 54954.2(a).)

Disability Access

The Urban Forestry Council meetings will be held in Room 400 or 416, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA.  The Council meeting room is wheelchair accessible.  The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at United Nations Plaza and Market Street.  Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #42 Downtown Loop, and #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro Stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center.  For information about MUNI accessible services call (415) 923-6142.  There is accessible curbside parking adjacent to City Hall on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue and in the vicinity of the Veterans Building at 401 Van Ness Avenue adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex.

The following services are available on request 48 hours prior to the meeting; except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline shall be 4:00 p.m. of the last business day of the preceding week:  For American sign language interpreters or the use of a reader during a meeting, a sound enhancement system, and/or alternative formats of the agenda and minutes, please contact Monica Fish at (415) 355-3709 to make arrangements for the accommodation.  Late requests will be honored, if possible.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products.  Please help the City accommodate these individuals.  Individuals with chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call the Mayor’s Office on Disability at (415) 554-6789 or (415) 554-6799 (TTY) for additional information.

Know your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance

(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)

Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public.  Commissions, boards, councils, and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business.  This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review.  For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Frank Darby, Sunshine Task Force Administrator, City Hall, Room 409, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA  94102-4683 at Phone No.: (415) 554-7724; Fax No.: (415) 554-7854; E-mail: [email protected].  Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code §2.100, et. seq] to register and report lobbying activity.  For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at: 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300, fax (415) 581-2317; web site at www.sfgov.org/ethics.

Other Important Information

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting.  Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

Copies of explanatory documents are available to the public at Department of Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of  9 a.m. and 5 p.m., by clicking on the links by each agenda item above, or upon request to the Council Secretary, at the above address or telephone number 415-355-3709, or via e-mail at [email protected] within three business days of a meeting.

When bringing handouts to meetings, please photocopy on both sides of the paper and try to use post-consumer recycled or tree-free paper.  Also, please bring sufficient copies of handouts for both the Commission and the public.