Tree Board Meeting

TREE BOARD September 10, 2018 The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session Room on the 10th day of September 2018 at 4:00 P.M. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland Absent: Commissioners Grisso and Winegardner City Officials Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation James Briggs, City of Norman Park Planner Karla Sitton, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Fagin seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland NAY: None ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Huffman made the motion to amend the agenda to the correct conference room and Commissioner Fagin seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner NAY: None __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being: ANNUAL TREE STORY CONTEST The Committee determined at the last meeting they will have an Annual Tree Story Contest again this year. The dates will be approximately October 16th to November 16th and prizes will be given out before the Christmas holiday. The Board also decided to give 1st, 2nd, and Best Overall prizes for both 4th grade participants as well as 5th grade participants; however, there will be one Grand Prize Overall for all participants. Chairman Menzie highlighted the prizes for the 4th grade winners as well as the 5th grade winners. Commissioner Fagin said there is a new procedure for Norman Public School Thursday Folders as everything has gone digital and volunteered to get the Tree Story Contest information to the schools. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 5, being: CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO ORDINANCE O-1112-19, CHAPTER 1, LANDSCAPE REGUIREMENTS Commissioner Spain highlighted the amendments made to the ordinance stating the biggest changes were amending the fee schedule from the previous draft; changing 4” Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) to 6” DBH; adding Tree Board Page 2 of 2 September 10, 2018 Section 4, “Applications for permissions to alter trees”; and adding Historic Designation. Commissioner Huffman felt like the ordinance should include criteria on what type of tree is planted; however, Chairman Menzie said the Forester would ultimately approve the tree size/species and felt like the ordinance should not over regulate because it could become complicated. Chairman Menzie said the goal of the tree ordinance is to replant trees. Mr. Sean Rieger, representing Norman Developers, said when a developer develops a piece of land, i.e, 100 acres, the ordinance only affects the edge of the property until the property is platted. He said the ordinance would not affect raw land but does affect platted rights-of-way; therefore, bulldozers could not remove trees to build the new infrastructure, i.e., streets, curbs, etc. Commissioner Huffman wondered how developers could be incentivized to keep trees when developing land and Commissioner Huffman felt developers and builders have a lot of incentive to keep trees because they make land more valuable. Mr. Rieger felt keeping trees was a priority for developers; however, sometimes storm water infrastructure, streets, etc., can make it difficult. Chairman Menzie felt the tree ordinance should not include unplatted areas and/or new development and Mr. Rieger said he appreciated that idea very much. Commissioner Tedder-Loffland said the ordinance should include a utility clause such as Oklahoma Corporation Commission 165:35-25-15 (21 Ok Reg 2093, eff 7-1-04) or Oklahoma Corporation Commission 165:35-25-16 (21 Ok Reg 2093, eff 7-1-04) since City regulations cannot trump State regulations/law. The Board discussed and agreed that the ordinance should include a utility clause; address platted versus unplatted land; and have an appeal section either through the City Manager’s office or through City Council. The Board also discussed that the City needs an urban forester to enforce the proposed ordinance. Commissioner Spain said he will make discussed changes to the ordinance and send to City Staff. City Staff will send the draft ordinance to the Tree Board as well as to Mr. Rieger in order to get feedback before the next scheduled meeting on October 1, 2018. The Community Planning and Transportation Committee (CPTC) was scheduled to discuss the proposed Tree Ordinance at their September meeting, but continued the discussions to the October 25, 2018 CPTC meeting. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 6, being: MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Commissioner Janaway said he applied for the Apache Tree Grant through the Norman Park Foundation for the Re-Leaf Berry Road Project and was informed they would donate 120 five-gallon trees. Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said Staff also applied for the Apache Tree Grant and was informed we would get 900 trees. He said Staff will be planning a tree giveaway event in November 2018. ITEM 7, being: ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Fagin seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2018 Don Menzie, Chairperson