SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES SANTA MONICA URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE. March 10 th, :30 PM

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1 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES SANTA MONICA URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE March 10 th, :30 PM A Regular Meeting of the Santa Monica Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force was called to order by Chair Judy Abdo, at 6:41pm, on Wednesday, March 10 th, 2010, in Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave. Roll Call: Present: Chair Judy Abdo Vice Chair Susan McCarthy Task Force Member Grace Phillips Task Force Member Linda Piera-Avila Task Force Member Tom Cleys Task Force Member Peter Jensen Also Present: Not Present: Community Maintenance Director, Joan Akins Public Landscape Manager, Randy Little Community Forester, Walt Warriner Recreation and Parks Commission Liaison, Phil Brock Secretary, Heidi Said Task Force Member Doris Sosin CHAIR REPORT BROADENING OF PUBLIC COMMENT & CHANGE TO RULES OF ORDER 1: Chair Abdo discussed a few issues of importance: City Manager is concerned with making sure the Task Force is focusing on the creation of the Master Plan. There is only a certain amount of money allotted to the Task Force for creation of the Master Plan. We have to remain conscious of the budget and how it is used because there are no more funds available. Would like the Master Plan to go to Council by January This means it must be completed sometime in August 2010 to go to the Planning Commission, the Landmarks Commission, the Recreation and Parks Commission and the Environmental Task Force. 2: Chair Abdo suggested that the Task Force adopt the same rules of order for Public Comment as City Council. Motion by Vice Chair McCarthy, Seconded by Task Force Member Phillips, to adopt the Council Rules for Public Comment which would enable people to speak as individual items come up, but adhere to an overall time limitation, given the Council model. Task Force members Piera-Avila, Phillips, Jensen, Cleys, Vice Chair McCarthy, Chair Abdo 1 March 10 th, 2010

2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 24 TH, 2010, REGULAR MEETING OF THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION LIAISON REPORT Public Comment was heard about Item #5 before the discussion of Item #5 3: Motion by Task Force member Phillips, Seconded by Task Force Member Jensen, to approve the minutes of the February 24 th, 2010 meeting of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force with the replacement of the term subterranean planting pits on page five with Silva Cells. Task Force members Piera-Avila, Phillips, Jensen, Cleys, Vice Chair McCarthy, Chair Abdo 4: Phil Brock is the new Recreation and Parks Commission Liaison. He gave a brief introduction and listed a few things that the Recreation and Parks Commission are interested in: Seeing more native species planted in the City. Keeping abreast of what the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force is doing. Cosmo Bua spoke about his concerns with the inclusion of trees on private property in the Master Plan. He quoted an from City Council member Kevin McKeown about his intension of including trees on private property in the Master Plan. Louise Steiner would also like trees on private property included in the Mission Statement. Jerry Rubin stated that he believes that trees on private property is an important issue but understands the timeline for the Master Plan. He would like issue of private trees included in the Mission Statement. TASK FORCE MISSION STATEMENT 5: Vice Chair McCarthy conducted a brainstorming discussion about creating the Mission Statement. The Task Force members gave the following input: Task Force member Piera-Avila created the following example of a possible mission statement for the Task Force: o Acting in an advisory role to the City Council, the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force will solicit community input and professional guidance to formulate Santa Monica s Urban Forest Master Plan in order to preserve, protect and enhance the urban forest, both public and private, in all its diversity and heritage, and to educate the public on urban forest issues and tree care, thereby promoting a healthy environment. Vice Chair McCarthy created the following example of a possible mission statement for the Task Force: o To facilitate the interaction of staff, consultants and the public to produce an urban forest master plan, a living document, for adoption by the City Council that will, with periodic review and updates, ensure the enlightened care of Santa Monica s Urban Forest, ensuring its long-term sustainability, and securing its environmental and economic benefits for the community for years to come. To use the process of 2 March 10 th, 2010

3 development of the plan to widely disseminate information about the importance of the urban forest and to share with the public the best practices to follow to nurture it. Task Force member Phillips created the following example of a possible mission statement for the Task Force: o Acting in an advisory role to the City Council, the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force will create, with community input and professional guidance, a long-range urban forest master plan; will steward and enhance the health and perpetuation of the urban forest s environmental, aesthetic, economic and social benefits; and will inform and engage the public in the process over time. Task Force member Jensen would like the following included in the Mission Statement: o To protect and steward the urban forest for the good of our community. The Task Force came up with the following common themes to include in the mission statement: o Solicit community input. o Living document with periodic updates. o Role as facilitators. o Advise Council. o Long range health and perpetuation of the urban forest for the benefit of the community. o Stewardship o Education o Enhancement of the urban forest o Environmental, aesthetic, economic and social benefits of the urban forest. Chair Abdo requested that Staff compile a mission statement, including all of the Task Force members ideas, and bring it back to the Task Force for adoption at the next meeting. Item #6 and Item #7 were heard and discussed in conjunction. COMMUNITY MEETING QUADRANT ASSIGNMENTS & COMMUNITY MEETING AGENDA CONTENT AND DATES Public Comment was heard for Items #6 & #7 after hearing from Staff. 6 & 7: Community Forester Walt Warriner stated that there were three possibilities considered when deciding how to divide the City for the Community Meetings: Quadrants west to east. Thirds north to south. No division entire City as a whole. He also discussed what would be included in the agenda for the first Community Meeting. This information was included in a handout. Jerry Rubin thinks that the City should be considered as a whole instead of different districts. 3 March 10 th, 2010

4 Motion by Vice Chair McCarthy, Seconded by Task Force Member Phillips, to have three (3) Citywide meetings with breakout groups divided by the climatic zones. Task Force members Piera-Avila, Phillips, Jensen, Cleys, Vice Chair McCarthy, Chair Abdo The Task Force requested that Staff decide the meeting dates and times via correspondence. Vice Chair McCarthy suggested a Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon and a weekday night. Task Force member Phillips suggested having an interpreter present at all Community Meetings. Vice Chair McCarthy liked the Community Meeting content and format that Task Force member Jensen suggested in his written communication. Asking the public what their favorite aspect or characteristics of trees are instead of asking them to select specific trees. Task Force member Phillips also liked the exhibit that was included in Task Force member Jensen s written communication and suggested that it be included in the Community Meetings. Task Force member Phillips suggested that the different tree traits be posted on a wall so that the public can mark which ones they prefer. Task Force member Cleys was concerned with the following in regards to the Community Meetings: o Making sure that the community is asked how they feel about canopy versus smaller trees. Would they be willing to have a larger canopy tree if some road work had to be done? o Education about how to take care of their street tree and who to contact would also be an important aspect that should be included. o There should also be a sheet that members of the public can fill out if they didn t get to express their opinion in the meeting. Community Forester Walt Warriner suggests the use of an online survey called Survey Monkey. Task Force member Cleys would like to make sure that the Task Force returns to the subject of trees on private property. Chair Abdo suggested that Task Force member Cleys draft a letter to Council and present it to the Task Force at the next meeting. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Jerry Rubin wanted to invite everyone to the 2 nd Tree Hugging Day. Alice Mouradian wanted to know if pruning or root cutting is the cause of the fungus on the trees on Bay St and Grant St. Ms. Mouradian also wanted to know why the trees on San Vicente are rotting. Ms. Mouradian wanted to know why the trees on Franklin St have been wiped out. 4 March 10 th, 2010

5 Cosmo Bua would like to remind the Task Force about the written communication that was submitted to include Tree Savers as one of the guest speakers at the Task Force meetings. Mr. Bua has also asked to be on a future agenda for the 5 th St park and 26 th St Community Corp trees. Mr. Bua would like to be on the agenda for a future meeting. Mr. Bua believes that the City Council asked the Task Force to include trees on private property in their purview. ADJOURNMENT On order of the Chair, Judy Abdo, the meeting was adjourned at 9:09pm. 5 March 10 th, 2010