City and County of San Francisco

DEpartment of the ENvironment

URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

APPROVED MINUTES

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 6:00 p.m.

City Hall, Room 416, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA 94102

 

Order of Business

 

1.      Call to Order and Roll Call.  The Urban Forestry Council Meeting convened at 6:03 p.m.  Present:  Chair Milne, Vice-Chair D’Agostino (6:08 p.m.), Council Members Blair (6:35), Boss, Cohen, Hillan (6:15), LeBeau, Sherk (6:20), Short, Vargas; Excused:  Member Rodgers; Advisory Member Present: Member Sustarich; Advisory Member Excused: Member Nervo.

 

2.      Adoption of Minutes of the July 24, 2009 Urban Forestry Council Regular Meeting. (Discussion and Action) Upon Motion by Member Cohen and second by Member LeBeau, the July 24, 2009 Meeting Minutes were adopted without objection (Vote: Ayes: Chair Milne, Vice-Chair D’Agostino, Members Boss, Cohen, LeBeau, Short and Vargas; Noes: None; Absent: Members Blair, Hillan, Rodgers and Sherk) (Explanatory Document: July 24, 2009 Approved Minutes).

 

3.      Approval of Resolution File 2009-05-UFC Amending the Urban Forestry Council Attendance Policy and Adding the Attendance Policy into the Bylaws.  (Explanatory Documents:  Notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment, Draft Resolution Amending Bylaws and Amended Attendance Policy) (Discussion and Action)

 

Vice-Chair D’Agostino stated that the reference to “Absence from State” requires more explanation and expressed her concern with members missing more than three meetings in a fiscal year.  Council Members discussed whether continuous absences should be allowed to continue without being addressed, but indicated that the current amendment to hold a meeting each time a member misses three or more meetings may require the issue to continue for a prolonged time.  Chair Milne stated that he would be hesitant to add the Attendance Policy into the Bylaws because it works fine the way it is and attendance problems can be addressed individually.  Chair Milne also felt that adding the Policy into the Bylaws would require the Council to continuously propose Bylaws amendments.

 

Member Hillan motioned to approve Resolution File 2009-05-UFC, second by Member D’Agostino.  (Vote: Ayes: Members Hillan and LeBeau; Noes: Chair Milne, Vice-Chair D’Agostino, Members Boss, Cohen, Sherk, Short, and Vargas; Absent: Members Blair and Rodgers.  The Resolution was not approved resulting in the Attendance Policy and Bylaws to remain status-quo.

 

4.      Review and Adoption of the Urban Forest Annual Report. Speaker: Mei Ling Hui, Urban Forestry Council Coordinator (Explanatory Document:  Urban Forest Annual Report) (Discussion and Action)  

 

Council Coordinator Hui reported that copy editing assistance would be provided before submission of the final report, and that a supplemental report would be issued if additional agencies respond after the due date for survey responses.  Upon Motion by Member Hillan and second by Member Sherk, the Urban Forest Annual Report was approved with amendments.  (VOTE:  AYES: Chair Milne, Vice-Chair D’Agostino, Members Blair, Boss, Cohen, Hillan, LeBeau, Sherk, Short, and Vargas; NOES:  None; Absent: Member Rodgers.) (Explanatory Document:  Final Report)

 

5.      Outreach for Urban Forestry Council Membership.  (Discussion)  Chair Milne reported that the Council currently depends on members to provide outreach to organizations to fill vacancies and on City advertisement.  Member Blair recommended advertising a notice at tree hearings.  A discussion was held on qualification-requirements for vacant seats.  Member Short inquired whether an existing member that met multiple criteria could shift their seat to a seat with less requirements so that an open slot may be more flexible. Coordinator Hui reported she would research this inquiry. Member D’Agostino stated that she would provide assistance in approaching professionals and professional organizations. It was recommended that members communicate to the Council Coordinator names of people or organizations to outreach to.  Member Cohen recommended contacting agencies such as SPUR that may encompass many possibilities.  Member Sherk inquired whether a member would have to reside in San Francisco.  Ms. Fish reported that a waiver can be granted if a San Francisco resident does not meet requirements of the seat.  Member Blair stated that if the Council were a Commission and had more power, there would be more interest in membership.  Member Hillan stated that it would be important to have information about the vacant seat before addressing outreach. 

 

5.      Urban Forestry Council Strategic Planning. The Council will discuss the Planning and Funding Committee’s recommendations on Council opportunities, constraints, strategies, direction, and assess their strengths and weaknesses. The Council will also discuss current resource needs and hear the Planning and Funding Committee’s strategic planning suggestions. Sponsor: Member Sherk (Continued from the June 23, 2009) (Discussion)  

 

Council Coordinator Hui distributed agency recommendations to the Annual Urban Forest Report Survey on what they would like the Council to work on (Explanatory Document:  Agency Recommendations).  Member Sherk reported that at the Planning and Funding Committee, a discussion was held about scheduling an off-site retreat to discuss the direction the Council is going in, what it hopes to achieve, and what is currently being achieved.  Member Sherk also discussed the possibility of establishing an Educational Committee that would develop educational programs. Members Cohen and Sherk discussed the possibility of a retreat facilitator.  Member Cohen also suggested inviting interested parties that could provide fresh ideas.  Member Short asked Council members to send ideas on an agenda for a strategic planning retreat to her and Coordinator Hui.   Chair Milne reported that the retreat would have to be a public meeting and advertised. Coordinator Hui indicated that she would provide additional information on retreat planning at the next Planning and Funding Committee meeting.    

 

Member Sustarich noted that there should be a correction to the agency recommendation list that Ms. Hui prepared on the PUC section of the list stating that it should read “explore funding sources for the removal of Monterey Pines killed by pine pitch canker both on public and private properties.”  Member Blair stated that more attention should be given to preserving the trees instead of cutting them down.    

 

6.      Staff Report.  Staff will provide updates on Urban Forestry Council administrative and programmatic operations relating to research, planning, funding, outreach, and other related activities. (Informational Report and Discussion) (Explanatory Document: Staff Report).   

 

Urban Forestry Council Coordinator Hui reported on the success of the landmark tree tour and potential tree nomination interest expressed by attendees of the tour; continuing work on the San Francisco Gleaning project; the restart of tree map work and the Department of the Environment’s scheduled meeting next week; the Commission on the Environment’s adoption of a Resolution urging the Planning Department to prioritize work on the Urban Forest Master Plan; and scheduled delivery of the Annual Urban Forest Report to stakeholders by email next Friday.

 

7.      Committee Reports: (Informational Reports and Discussion)

Planning & Funding Committee, Chair, Carla Short

The Thursday, September 17, 2009 meeting will be rescheduled to Thursday, September 8, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. at City Hall, Room 421.

 Planning and Funding Committee Chair Short stated that Committee Members at the August 20 Planning and Funding Committee meeting (1) discussed the Annual Urban Forest Report Draft edits; (2) postponed discussion of the San Francisco Street Tree Recommendation List to the next meeting and asked for Council Members to provide their questions, concerns, and recommendations; (3) discussed Urban Forestry Council strategic planning, which was continued to the next meeting.  Additional information on holding a possible off-site retreat will be provided and an agenda will be worked on to recommend to the full Council. Council members were asked for their suggestions for a retreat agenda.

The next meeting would include discussions on pine pitch and sooty canker and how the Council should address these issues and the beginning of a discussion on using undeveloped lots or lots that are on hold for development as greening opportunities.

 

Landmark Tree Ad Hoc Committee, Chair, Mike Boss

The next meeting is scheduled as required.

Landmark Tree Committee Chair Boss stated that there were no trees to consider for landmark tree status, so no meetings were held.

 

8.      Chair’s Announcements: Terry Milne, Chair, Urban Forestry Council (Information and Discussion)  Council Chair Milne reported that Member Boss had submitted his resignation and thanked him for his contribution to the Council.

 

9.      New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information and Discussion).  Vice-Chair D’Agostino stated that she has concerns about members missing more than three meetings and asked that a review be made of which members have missed three meetings and what next steps should be taken.  Chair Milne requested that this issue be placed on the September Council meeting agenda and indicated that the Council would discuss pine pitch and sooty canker at a future meeting.

 

10.  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.  There was no public comment at this time.

 

11.  Adjournment.  The Urban Forestry Council meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

 

Explanatory documents are available to the public at the Department of the Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., by clicking on the attachments with each agenda or meeting minutes, or upon request to the Council Secretary at the address listed below, telephone number 415-355-3709, or via e-mail at [email protected].