URBAN FORESTRY COUNCIL

LANDMARK TREE AD HOC COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING

APPROVED MEETING MINUTES

 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

City Hall, Room 421

One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Malcolm Hillan (Chair), Larry Costello, Rose Hillson, Megan Sutherland, Kelaine Vargas           

 

Order of Business

 

1.      Call to Order and Roll Call.  The Landmark Tree Committee meeting convened at 5:45 p.m.

 

2.      Adoption of Minutes of the April 12, 2011 Urban Forestry Council Landmark Tree Ad Hoc Committee Special Meeting (Explanatory Document: April 12, 2011 Draft Minutes) (Discussion and Action).  Upon Motion by Committee Member Vargas, second by Committee Member Hillson, the April 12, 2011 Meeting Minutes were approved without objection (AYES:  Members Hillan, Costello, Hillson, Sutherland and Vargas; Noes:  None)

 

3.      Hearing on Nominations for Landmark Tree Status. The Landmark Tree Committee will hold a hearing to determine whether the trees nominated at the following locations meet the criteria for designation as landmark trees. (Discussion and Action)

 

Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) located at 774 Cayuga Street, Assessor’s Block 3146, Lot 042, San Francisco, CA.  (Explanatory Documents:  Nomination Form, Committee and Staff Evaluation Forms, Tree Images, Arborist Report)

 

Committee Members heard a presentation from the authorized nominator/property owner Ms. Marilu Kriegish, and heard public comment in support of landmark tree status.  The property owner presented an arborist report.  Committee members discussed their evaluation reports.  Upon Motion by Member Sutherland, second by Member Vargas, the Committee voted not to recommend landmark tree status to the Urban Forestry Council for the Coast Redwood at 774 Cayuga Street by a vote of 5-0. (AYES NOT TO RECOMMEND Landmark Tree status:  Members Hillan, Costello, Hillson, Sutherland and Vargas; Noes:  None)

 

English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) located at 864 Francisco Street, Assessor’s Block 0045, Lot 006, San Francisco, CA (Explanatory Documents:  Nomination Form, Arborist Report, Committee and Staff Evaluation Forms, Tree Images)

 

The Committee heard a presentation from Mr. Ray Moritz, arborist for the property owner, in support of landmark tree status.  Committee members discussed their evaluation reports.  Upon Motion by Member Costello, second by Member Hillson, the Committee voted not to recommend landmark tree status to the Urban Forestry Council for the English Laurel at 864 Francisco Street by a vote of 5-0. (AYES NOT TO RECOMMEND Landmark Tree status:  Members Hillan, Costello, Hillson, Sutherland and Vargas; Noes:  None)

 

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

 

The Committee heard presentations from the authorized nominator/property owner, Ms. Jane von Bothmer and Mr. Roy Leggitt, arborist for the property owner, in support of landmark tree status.  The Committee received testimony from (1) Ms. Barri Bonapart, Attorney, in opposition to landmark tree status; (2) affected property owner, in opposition to landmark tree status, and (3) Ms. Julie Farrah, Attorney, in support of landmark tree status.  Committee members discussed their evaluation reports.  Upon Motion by Member Vargas, second by Member Sutherland, the Committee voted to recommend landmark tree status for the Blackwood Acacia at 2853 Vallejo Street by a vote of 3-2. (AYES TO RECOMMEND Landmark Tree status:  Members Hillson, Sutherland and Vargas; Noes:  Members Costello and HIllan).

 

4.      New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information and Discussion) 

 

Member Vargas reported that the April 12 Meeting minutes noted that the Landmark Tree Committee would forward the Landmark Tree Nomination Form and Definition/Designation Criteria for landmark groves to the full Council for review at its May 27 meeting.  The Landmark Tree Committee will review Council feedback, geographic delineation, and establish a management framework for landmark groves at its June 14 meeting and discuss amendments to the Landmark Tree Ordinance.  Committee Members suggested a discussion on amendments to the landmark tree evaluation criteria form at a future meeting.   

 

5.      Public Comment:  Members of the public may address the Committee on matters that are within the Committee’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.  There was no public comment at this time.

 

6.      Adjournment.  The Urban Forestry Council Landmark Tree Ad Hoc Committee adjourned at 7:51 p.m.

 

Copies of explanatory documents are available to the public at (1) the Department of the Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., (2) or when possible, on the Landmark Tree Committee webpage https://sites.google.com/a/sfenvironment.org/commission/urban-forestry-council/landmark-tree-committee, (3) upon request to the Council Secretary at the above address or telephone number 415-355-3709, or via e-mail at  [email protected].