Tree Board Meeting

TREE BOARD August 7, 2017 The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session Room on the 7th day of August 2017 at 4:00 P.M. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Huffman, Lavastida, Spain and Winegardner Absent: Members Grisso, Guistozzi and Janaway City Officials Present: James Briggs, City of Norman Park Planner Karla Chapman, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 26, 2017 MEETING MINUTES Member Fagin made the motion and Member Huffman seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Huffman, Lavastida, Spain and Winegardner NAY: None ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Member Fagin made the motion and Member Huffman seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Huffman, Lavastida, Spain and Winegardner NAY: None ITEM 4, being: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Member Fagin said a lot of supporters came by the Tree Board booth at last month’s 2nd Friday Art Walk and he and Member Lavastida are planning to set up again this Friday, August 11th. Member Spain asked whether Members Fagin and Lavastida talked to people about the need for the City of Norman to Tree Board Page 2 of 3 August 7, 2017 hire a forester and Member Fagin said yes. Member Fagin said he distributed educational brochures and ward maps that included Councilmember(s) contact information and encouraged people to contact their Councilmember. He said many people were surprised the City of Norman did not have a forester on staff. Member Lavastida asked whether the Tree Board could set up a facebook page that would allow information only and would not allow comments. James Briggs said he would check with the City’s Chief Communications Officer and see if it would be possible and if so, what requirements are needed. ITEM 5, being CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO ORDINANCE O-1112-19, CHAPTER 1, LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS Member Spain said the sub-committee, Don Menzie, Darrell Janaway and himself, met a couple of weeks ago to discuss a proposal for a policy and what it should look like. He felt the lack of a City forester will not help the policy proposal, i.e., the City does not have a mechanism to enforce a policy. Member Spain said the sub-committee discussed the following:  Modify the Wichita Falls policy to fit the City of Norman;  Make an “aspiration” policy similar to Fremont, California, should the City hire a forester in the future;  Determine whether an application for a permit would be needed to remove or replant a tree; and  Make the policy as clear as possible. Chairman Menzie said he would like to invite the Code Compliance Division to participate in the discussions because any enforcement of trees now falls under 10-204 and 10-209 under “weeds.” Member Fagin said he like the Fremont, CA policy but felt it would be hard to implement without a forester. He asked whether ordinance amendments and/or changes would apply City-wide or only apply to historic areas that have older trees. Member Fagin felt any amendment changes should apply to street trees in urban areas. Chairman Menzie said he spoke to James Chappel, Community Affairs Manager with OG&E, who is also present at today’s meeting. James said he favors public education and felt there is only a conflict when trees grow into electrical lines. He said OG&E has a replacement program; however, it is not as proactive as it should be. Chairman Menzie said the Committee could also consider a tree replacement program for the City. Member Spain said the sub-committee will meet again (before the next Tree Board meeting) and asked for Committee input and/or suggestions regarding a proposed policy. Member Lavastida felt creating a facebook page for the Tree Board will help get information, including educational, out to the public. Member Winegardner said the City should also educate the big box stores and promote recommended trees. Chairman Menzie felt the City of Norman should not be the tree police, but instead educate the citizens to be better and embrace a tree policy. Member Fagin said in the past, the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Division provided a tree list and Chairman Menzie said the tree list is old and is not within the current Ordinance. Tree Board Page 3 of 3 August 7, 2017 ITEM 6, being: MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS Chairman Menzie asked the Committee if they wanted to do the “Tree Story” contest this year and the Committee said yes. Member Lavastida said if the Tree Board can have a facebook page, the “Tree Story” information should be put on it. She said she would be happy to visit the schools on behalf of the Tree Board and explain the contest. Chairman Menzie requested Staff put this as an item on next month’s agenda. The Tree Board was rescheduled from September 4, 2017, to September 11, 2017, due to the Labor Day holiday. ITEM 7, being: ADJOURNMENT Member Winegardner made the motion and Member Lavastida seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Huffman, Lavastida, Spain and Winegardner NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2017 Don Menzie, Chairperson