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City and County of San Francisco DEpartment of the ENvironment URBAN FORESTRY COUNCILPLANNING & FUNDING COMMITTEEREGULAR MEETINGAPPROVED MINUTES
Thursday, February 18, 2010, 4:15 p.m. City Hall, Room 421, One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, CA 94102
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Chris Buck (Chair), Naomi LeBeau, Terry Milne, Bonnie Ora Sherk
Order of Business
1. Call to Order and Roll Call. The Planning and Funding Committee meeting convened at 4:27 p.m. Present: Chair Buck, Milne and Sherk (app. 5:00 p.m.) (Excused--Member LeBeau). Council Chair Milne appointed Council Member Maria D’Agostino as a provisional member to the Committee for this meeting. Council Coordinator Mei Ling Hui was present at this meeting.
2. Approval of Minutes of the January 21, 2010 Urban Forestry Council Planning and Funding Committee Regular Meeting. (Explanatory Document: January 21, 2010 Draft Meeting Minutes) (Discussion and Action) Upon Motion by Member Milne, second by Provisional Member D’Agostino, the January 21, 2010 Meeting Minutes were approved without objection (AYES: Chair Buck, Members D’Agostino and Milne) (Absent: Members LeBeau and Sherk).
3. 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.
4. Development and Trees. The Committee will review and discuss tree disclosure and protection requirements when developing near protected trees as it relates to the tree protection zone described for Landmark and Significant trees and prepare a Draft Resolution for recommendation to the full Council. (Discussion and Possible Action)
Committee members discussed developing a City staff auditing and enforcement process on sites where development is in progress to ensure tree protection requirements are being upheld. A discussion was held on preparing a Resolution recommending that the Department of Public Works Ordinance be amended to provide for monitoring, inspection, and enforcement at these sites. Suggestions included establishing developer fees for a cost recovery program to provide City staff inspection services or for hiring a third party arborist to perform inspections for the duration of the project. Members felt that more information was required from Member Rodgers on her intentions as it applies to the Planning Department’s Tree Disclosure Statement. This agenda item was continued to the March 18 Planning and Funding Committee meeting for discussion.
Public Comment: Ms. Rose Hillson stated that she was the member of the public who approached Member Rodgers about the effectiveness of the wording on the Tree Disclosure Statement as it applies to the tree protection zone and how the language would not protect the landmark Manzanita on her property. (Explanatory Document: Arborist Statement) She stated that (1) after consultation with an architect on a particular project, she was told that the Planning Department did not require him/her to provide a Tree Disclosure statement; (2) that permits are not required for some projects which may cause some tree removals, etc. to go unnoticed; (3) that enforcement of tree protection measures should be required; and (4) the Tree Disclosure Statement is not always handed out with the Planning Department’s permit application packet.
5. Urban Forestry Council Strategic Planning and Scheduling of a Part 2 Retreat Meeting for recommendation to the full Council to consider at their February 23, 2010 meeting. (Continued Discussion from the January 21, 2010 Meeting) (Discussion and Action)
Council Coordinator Hui reported that a suitable date has not yet been selected for the Retreat due to coordination with council member’s and facilitator’s availability. She stated that an update if available would be provided at the February 23 Council meeting after consultation with the facilitator. An option discussed was to hold the meeting on the date of a regular Council meeting. This agenda item would be continued to the next Planning and Funding Committee meeting if no further information was available at the time of the Council meeting.
6. Greening of Lots where Development is on Hold. (Continued from the January 21, 2010 Meeting) (Discussion)
Committee members discussed consulting with groups who are surveying city vacant lots and the Mayor’s Office on current projects. A discussion was held on potential urban forestry projects that could be implemented on vacant lots, e.g. tree nurseries, and what part the Council could play. Committee members discussed how blight laws may apply to vacant lots and property owners who may welcome greening of their lots to avoid blight fees. Council Coordinator Hui reported that she would contact the Hayes Valley Farm and Permaculture Guild project managers to request a presentation on their proposed projects at the March 18 Policy and Funding Committee meeting.
7. Development of Policies to address Pine Pitch Canker Solutions. The Committee will discuss approving Resolution language for recommendation to the Urban Forestry Council that would encourage all City and private agencies to follow recommendations by the Pine Pitch Canker Task Force. (Continued from the January 21, 2010 Meeting) (Explanatory Document: Pitch Canker Resolution Draft)(Discussion and Action)
Chair Buck stated that he had forwarded draft Resolution language to staff that supports the recommendations of the Pitch Canker Task Force for Committee Member’s consideration. Council Coordinator Hui reported that she would request approval from legal counsel on the draft Resolution language. A discussion was held on Resolution content, directing recommendations to agencies and stakeholders who have jurisdiction over trees, and finding a Board of Supervisors sponsor to prepare their own Resolution. A Draft Resolution would be presented for Council review and approval at the February 23 Council meeting.
8. New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Discussion).
Committee members discussed the status of the vacant positions on the Council, the need for outreach, and the possibility of developing a work group/committee to generate membership interest.
9. 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.
Ms. Rose Hillson inquired about the connection between the Urban Forestry Council and Recreation and Park Department activities surrounding trees, e.g., if Recreation and Park Department has noticing requirements for cutting down trees. Committee Member Milne stated that the Recreation and Park Department has a system that is different from what other Departments may have in place, but they are required to post a 30-day notice if a tree is scheduled to be removed. He stated that members of the public may attend Recreation and Park Commission meetings to make their opinion heard on Recreation and Park tree activities.
10. Adjournment. The Planning and Funding Committee meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m.
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., by clicking on the links with each meeting minutes posted online https://sites.google.com/a/sfenvironment.org/commission/urban-forestry-council/planning-funding-committee, or upon request to the Council Secretary at the address listed below, telephone number 415-355-3709, or via e-mail at [email protected].
Respectfully submitted by, Monica Fish, Council Secretary
Approved: April 15, 2010 |
