URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

APPROVED MINUTES

 

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

1.    Call to Order and Roll Call.  The Urban Forestry Council meeting convened at 8:42 a.m. Present:  Chair D’Agostino, Vice-Chair Hillson, Members Buck, Costello (8:45 a.m.), Flanagan, Sherwin, Sullivan (8:43), Sutherland and Vargas; Excused:  Member Sider; Absent:  Member Hillan; Advisory Member Present:  Member Muraoka; Advisory Member Excused:  Member Barrow.

 

2.    Adoption of Minutes of the October 25, 2011 Urban Forestry Council Regular Meeting. (Explanatory Document:  October 25, 2011Draft and Approved Minutes) (Discussion and Action)  Upon Motion by Vice-Chair Hillson, second by Chair D’Agostino, the October 25, 2011 Meeting Minutes were approved without objection (AYES:  Chair D’Agostino, Vice-Chair Hillson, Members Buck, Flanagan, Sherwin, Sullivan, Sutherland and Vargas; Absent:  Members Costello, Hillan and Sider).

 

3.    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 were no members of the public present at this time.

 

4.    Update on Annual Urban Forest Report. (Informational Report and Discussion) Speaker: Chair D'Agostino. 

 

Chair D’Agostino reported on the December Planning and Funding Committee meeting and Work Group discussions on the Annual Urban Forest Report.  The Committee discussed format and content for current and future reports, revisions to this year’s report, and identified a format to gather information in order to produce quantifiable as well as qualitative data.  This year’s survey questions were parsed out to agencies that plant and manage trees and those that are more involved in policy, funding and education.  Chair D’Agostino reported on the Work Group’s review of the previous year’s report responses and relevance to the Council’s goals.  A report format for this year was agreed upon.  A Draft Annual Report would be presented to the Council at its January meeting for review and approval.

 

5.    Urban Forestry Council Strategic Plan. The Council will review work plan goals and identify action items for the coming year. (Explanatory Document:  Urban Forestry Council Updated Prioritized Work Plan Goals) (Continued from the October 25, 2011Meeting) (Informational Report, Discussion, and Possible Action)

 

Council Members reviewed and prioritized the Council’s work plan goals and action items for 2012 as follows: 

 

·        Establish a defined schedule of regular reporting from City agencies at Urban Forestry Council meetings.

·        Issue routine Resolutions with findings to help build the Urban Forestry Council as an important component of the review process.

·        Participate in campaigns, e.g., Tree of the Month, Arbor Day, Earth Day, and World Environment Day and attend relevant agency meetings.

·        Establish a calendar of meetings for individual Council Members to meet with Board of Supervisors members to highlight Urban Forestry Council work and priorities.     

 

A discussion was held about the similarity of last year’s action item statements and incorporation into the action items identified for 2012.  Action items from last year include (1) continuing to increase communication amongst urban forestry stakeholders and key decision makers, and (2) educating the public on the importance of the urban forest and activating and empowering citizen groups. The new action item identified for 2012 is to review policies, plans and projects by providing comments and resolutions in support of the urban forest and creating a calendar of meetings. The Council is scheduled to review and approve the final language on the work plan goals and action items identified at the January meeting.

 

Member Vargas left the meeting during this agenda item.

 

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). There was no staff report issued at this time.

 

7.    Committee Reports: (Informational Reports and Discussion)

Planning & Funding Committee. Chair’s Report on the December 5, 2011meeting. The next meeting date and time is to be announced. 

Chair D’Agostino reported on the Work Group meeting to review street tree species that perform well in many San Francisco locations for the Recommended Street Tree List and brochure and the addition of an experimental tree category.  Work Group participants were asked to bring the list back to their agencies for discussion and would meet again in January to propose a revised species list for the Council’s consideration in January. 

 

Council Members were asked for their input on street tree species that perform well in San Francisco.  The Committee also discussed the format for the Work Plan meeting and received a status report on the Annual Report.  Member Sutherland suggested referencing Cal Poly’s website of recommended trees.

 

Landmark Tree Ad Hoc Committee Report.  The Landmark Tree Committee did not meet in November or December.  There was no Committee report issued at this time.

 

8.    Chair’s Announcements: Chair, Urban Forestry Council (Information and Discussion) Chair D’Agostino (1) reported on an event she recently attended at the California Academy of Sciences; (2) asked Council Members to keep each other informed of upcoming events; and (3) announced that Hayes Valley Farm is selling recommended fruit trees for San Francisco.

 

9.    Urban Forestry Council Member Announcements. (Information and Discussion)    Member Buck reported on (1) the upcoming removal by DPW of a row of Myoporum trees on Diamond Heights Boulevard; (2) applications DPW received from California Pacific Medical Center to remove trees at St. Luke’s Hospital and Cathedral Hill on Van Ness; and (3) the hiring of Davey Resource Group to help evaluate street trees and help facilitate the notification to property owners about relinquishment of maintenance responsibility. Chair D’Agostino reported on the issuance of the Annual California Tree Failure Report in January and urged members to participate.

 

10. New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information and Discussion) Council Members were asked to present ideas for agency presentations at future meetings.  Member Costello suggested the Council schedule an agenda item to identify agencies and create a calendar of meetings. Member Muraoka requested (1) a Council discussion in January or February on the California State Parks Department Master Plan for Candlestick Point Recreation Area and (2) an update on Council proposed amendments to the Landmark Tree Ordinance to add landmark groves.  Chair D’Agostino reported that the proposed amendments are pending finalization by the Deputy City Attorney and Landmark Tree Committee revisions to nomination and evaluation forms.

 

11. 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.

 

12. Adjournment.  The Urban Forestry Council meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

 

The next meeting of the Urban Forestry Council is scheduled for Friday, January 27, 2011, at 8:30 a.m., Room 400, San Francisco City Hall.