URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

APPROVED MINUTES

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011, 6:00 P.M.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

1.    Call to Order and Roll Call.  The Urban Forestry Council meeting convened at 6:07 p.m.  Present:  Council Chair D’Agostino, Vice Chair Hillson, Council Members Buck, Costello, Flanagan, Hillan, Hillson, Sherwin, Sider, Sullivan, Sutherland and Vargas.  Advisory Member Present: Member Muraoka.  Advisory Member Excused:  Member Barrow.

 

2.    Introduction of New Members. (Information and Discussion) 

 

Chair D’Agostino introduced Member Sutherland as a new member of the Urban Forestry Council and announced that all vacant seats have been filled.  Member Sutherland introduced herself and described her background as a PG&E auditor for compliance with federal and state mandates, small business owner of the Wildlife Training Institute, certified arborist, and utility specialist.

 

3.    Adoption of Minutes of the May 27, 2011 Urban Forestry Council Regular Meeting. (Explanatory Document:  May 27, 2011 Draft Minutes) (Discussion and Action)

 

Upon Motion by Member Hillson, second by Chair D’Agostino, the May 27, 2011 Meeting Minutes were approved without objection (AYES: Council Chair D’Agostino, Vice Chair Hillson, Council Members Buck, Costello, Flanagan, Hillan, Hillson, Sherwin, Sider, Sullivan, Sutherland and Vargas; NOES:  None).

 

4.    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.

 

5.    Hearing on Nomination for Landmark Tree Status. The Urban Forestry Council will hold a hearing to determine whether the tree nominated at the following location meets the criteria for designation as a landmark tree. (Continued from the May 27, 2011 Meeting) (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.

 

Blackwood Acacia (Acacia Melanoxylon) located at 2853 Vallejo Street, Assessor’s Block 0958, Lot 18, San Francisco, CA (Explanatory Documents:  Landmark Tree Committee Written Summary, Nomination Form, Committee and Staff Evaluation Forms, Magazine Article, Tree Images)

 

Council Coordinator Hui reported that the property owner rescinded her nomination and announced that additional background material had been received by the Council Office (Explanatory Document:  Letter Rescinding Nomination).

 

6.    Approval of Draft Resolution File No. 2011-06-UFC stating the Urban Forestry Council’s Position on the Department of Public Works (DPW) Tree Maintenance Transfer Plan. Due to proposed budget cuts, DPW proposes transferring maintenance responsibility for approximately 24,000 trees to fronting property owners. (Explanatory Documents: DPW Fact Sheet, DPW FAQ, DPW Presentation to Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee http://www.sfdpw.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1268 and Draft Resolution File No. 2011-06-UFC) (Discussion and Action)

 

Council Member Buck, Department of Public Works (DPW) Representative to the Council reported on proposed budget cuts, the impacts, pros and cons of the proposal, Public Works Code Ordinance provisions, and alternative proposals considered. Committee Members discussed potential alternatives to the Plan, current agreements with homeowners and Public Works Ordinance provisions, liability issues, decision-making timeframe on the proposal, and what could be considered conflicting budget allocations to an apprenticeship program.

 

Member Hillan motioned, second by Member Sutherland to adopt Resolution File 2011-06-UFC with amendments as proposed by Member Muraoka and incorporating comments made by Members Sider and Vargas (AYES:  Chair D’Agostino, Vice Chair Hillson, Council Members Costello, Flanagan, Hillan, Hillson, Sherwin, Sider, Sullivan, Sutherland and Vargas; Abstained: Member Buck) (Explanatory Document: Resolution 006-11-UFC). 

 

7.    Approval of Draft Resolution File No. 2011-07-UFC Proposing Amendments to Public Works Code Article 16 “the Landmark Tree Ordinance.” Speaker:  Landmark Tree Committee Chair Hillan  (Explanatory Documents:  Draft Resolution File No. 2011-07-UFC, Cover Letter to Board of Supervisors, and Public Works Code, Article 16 Proposed Amendments) (Discussion and Action)

 

Landmark Tree Committee Chair Hillan reported on the Landmark Tree Committee’s recommendation on landmark tree grove definition and criteria by which a grove would be recognized as a landmark as described in proposed amendments to Public Works Code Article 16, Sections 802 and 810.  The proposed amendments are subject to review by legal staff.

 

Member Hillan moved, second by Member Sherwin to adopt Resolution File 2011-07-UFC with amendments (AYES:  Chair D’Agostino, Vice Chair Hillson, Council Members Buck, Costello, Flanagan, Hillan, Hillson, Sherwin, Sider, Sullivan, Sutherland and Vargas) (Explanatory Document:  Resolution 007-11-UFC).

 

8.    United Nations General Assembly Declaring 2011 the International Year of Forests. (Informational Report and Discussion) Sponsor:  Chair D’Agostino (Explanatory Document: International Year of Forests website: http://www.celebrateforests.com/about-year-forests) (Informational Report and Discussion)

 

Chair D’Agostino suggested that Council Members access the International Year of Forests website for additional information about upcoming celebrations, sharing information, and for facts and information.

 

9.    Rescheduling or Relocation of August 23 Urban Forestry Council Regular Meeting. Speaker:  Chair D’Agostino (Discussion and Action)

 

Council Members agreed to hold their next meeting on August 23, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at the San Francisco Planning Department location, 1650 Mission Street, 5^th Floor.

 

10. 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)

 

Council Coordinator Hui provided updates as follows: (1) an intern will be providing assistance to Ms. Hui two days a week until August 30; (2) asked Council members for their input into projects for EnvironmentNow staff, who has a new crew looking for urban forest and agricultural opportunities in the Bayview neighborhood; (3) discussed the AT&T plan to place utility boxes on sidewalks and tree planting opportunities; (4) reported that the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Plan is moving forward and the Citizens Advisory Committee will be meeting on Tuesday July 26 from 5;00 to 7:00 p.m.  Chair D’Agostino suggested that the Planning and Funding Committee consider a Resolution taking a position on the Plan for the Council to consider at its next meeting in August. 

 

Public Comment: Ms. Judy Berkowitz reported that the Board of Supervisors discussed the AT&T plan at its meeting today and continued the discussion to July 12.  She stated that a suggestion was made for the 726 utility boxes to be located on private property.

 

11. Committee Reports: (Informational Reports and Discussion)

Planning & Funding Committee. Chair’s Report on the June 16, 2011 meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2011, 4:15 p.m. at City Hall, Room 421.

 

Committee Chair Buck reported that the Planning and Funding Committee at its June 16, 2011 meeting discussed the Resolution on the DPW tree relinquishment proposal that the Council voted on today.  He stated that he would provide updates to Council members as they become available.

 

Landmark Tree Ad Hoc Committee Report.  Chair’s Report June 14, 2011 Meeting. 

 

Member Hillan reported that the Landmark Tree Committee at its June 14, 2011 meeting discussed the landmark grove Resolution which the Council voted on today.  He stated that the next Committee meeting scheduled for July 12 will be to clarify the appropriateness of landmark tree nominations and to review existing landmark tree criteria.

 

12. Chair’s Announcements: Chair, Urban Forestry Council (Information and Discussion)

 

Council Chair D’Agostino discussed the current status of the Recreation and Open Space Plan, an Element of the General Plan, and asked Member Hillson to report on actions taken by the Planning Commission at its recent meeting.  Member Hillson reported that public comment is being accepted on the Plan until August 6 and can be directed to Susan Exline at [email protected].   Member Sider reported that there will be additional public hearings in the fall and that comments will be accepted on the overall document until that time.  The Plan is scheduled for adoption in the late fall, and then will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for review.

 

13. Urban Forestry Council Member Announcements. (Information and Discussion)

 

Member Hillson announced that she has asked the Committee on the Japantown Better Neighborhoods Plan to make a presentation to the Council at a future date.  Comments are currently being accepted on the landscaping plan.

 

Member Hillan announced the recent publication by City Lights Foundation (SF) of the book Ten Years that Shook the City--San Francisco 1968-1978. The chapter "The Farm by the Freeway" describes the activism and creative leadership of former member Bonnie Ora Sherk (among others) in establishing and developing an area north of the then Army Street/101 exchange known as The Farm. The arts, education, agriculture, social activism and community development were all supported at the Farm, and Bonnie was key in bringing it all to life.

 

14. New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information and Discussion)  This agenda item was not discussed at this time.

 

15. 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.

 

16. Adjournment.  The Urban Forestry Council meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

 

The next meeting of the Urban Forestry Council is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 6:00 p.m., at the San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, 5^th Floor, San Francisco, CA  94103.

Copies of explanatory documents are available to the public at the Department of Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., upon request to the Council Secretary at the above address or telephone number 415-355-3709 or via e-mail at [email protected].  Explanatory documents are also available at the Council’s meeting or agenda website https://sites.google.com/a/sfenvironment.org/commission/urban-forestry-council as attachments with each agenda or meeting minutes.