Tree Board Meeting

TREE BOARD November 5, 2018 The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session Room on the 5th day of October 2018, at 4:00 P.M. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner Absent: None 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 OCTOBER 1, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Lavastida seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner NAY: None ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Winegardner made the motion and Commissioner Spain seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner NAY: None __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being: ANNUAL TREE STORY CONTEST Commissioner Fagin said he got a PDF version of the information about the Annual Tree Story Contest to Norman Public Schools; which has a new digital system in place, and resubmitted to run the month of November. Commissioner Spain asked how many Tree Stories have been submitted and Chairman Menzie said he is not sure at this time. He said he will bring them to the next Tree Board meeting so that everyone can look them over. Chairman Menzie said the contest will run from October 16th to November 16th, and prizes will be given out before the Christmas holiday. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 5, being: ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE Chairman Menzie asked the Board if they would like to participate in the Annual Christmas Parade scheduled on December 8, 2018. He said he had a truck and trailer that could be used. Commissioner Winegardner said it would be great if the Annual Tree Contest winners rode the float; however, it may be too late to notify the contestants this year. Commissioner Lavastida suggested for next year’s Annual Tree Contest, the Board advertise that the winners Tree Board Page 2 of 3 November 5, 2018 will have the opportunity to ride on the Tree Boards float during the Christmas Parade. The Board discussed and no one could commit to helping/riding on a float this year. Chairman Menzie said he would ask his daughter, Mariah Menzie, to wear a tree costume with stilts and participate in the Christmas Parade representing the Tree Board. Commissioner Grisso said she would submit and pay the parade application fee if Ms. Menzie agreed to participate in the Christmas Parade. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 6, being: CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL TREE ORDINANCE Mr. Kathryn Walker, Assistant City Attorney, said Staff has been reviewing a vegetation management ordinance that would go along and be in accordance with the potential tree ordinance that the Tree Board has been discussing. She felt combining both ordinances and all efforts into one would be good for the City of Norman. Ms. Walker introduced OG&E consultant, Michael Sulton with Davey Resource Group. She said he has been working with City Staff to draft the proposed vegetation management ordinance. Mr. Sulton said the combined ordinance language will address the importance of trees as well as address utility concerns. Mr. Sulton highlighted the proposed additions to the ordinance and stated the goal is to include more incentives than penalties. Chairman Menzie said he is happy with the draft proposal; however, he is a little concerned about the tree root protection zone on construction in Section 1.12. Commissioner Spain asked whether one City Forester would be able to enforce the proposed ordinance and wondered if it is too technical. Mr. Sulton said enforcement can be an issue, but felt having a document in place to enforce is a good start. Chairman Janaway felt Code Enforcement could assist a City Forester and Mr. Sulton said yes, if they know what to look for when enforcing the tree ordinance. Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said a list of suggested trees will need to be placed in the ordinance. Chairman Menzie said he would obtain a list of suggested trees from the state. Commissioner Spain asked if the ordinance can refer to “suggested list” but not put the list in the ordinance and Ms. Walker said yes. Mr. Richard Bewley, OG&E Forester, suggested to consciously forget about putting large trees on the list, but rather include trees that would make the community more diversified. Commissioner Spain asked what was the likelihood that this ordinance draft will be approved versus the previous ordinance draft and Ms. Walker said both efforts are good. She said Council has indicated they want to support and approve an ordinance even if we need to continue to build on what is passed. Mr. Foster said he felt it make sense to combine both efforts into one ordinance. Chairman Menzie said hiring a City Forester to educate the public on types of trees and their placement will also help. Ms. Walker said a mid-year budget review is approaching and there is a possibility that Council will make a decision regarding the Forester position and if so, a Forester may be on staff within a few months. Mr. Foster said Council would like to move forward and if the Tree Board agrees the two issues should be combined the ordinance could take a month or so to be fine-tuned; however, it will keep the momentum going. He said the Tree Ordinance will probably go back to the Community Planning and Transportation Committee (CPTC) next month for continued discussion. Mr. Sean Rieger, representing Norman Developers, said he was good and found common ground with the initial ordinance but has major issues with today’s draft proposal specifically Sections 1.11, 1.12, and 1.13. He said the proposed draft addresses all trees in Norman, but he is committed to help get to an ordinance that works for everyone. Mr. Foster asked the Board if they were interested in combining the two issues today and if so, that does not mean they would need to agree on the final draft today. Ms. Walker said Staff will and can continue to work on the ordinance in November and work on additional language with Sean Rieger. Commissioner Fagin asked if the next step was to tweak the ordinance so it can be discussed at the next Tree Board meeting scheduled for December 3rd and Ms. Walker said yes. Commissioner Tedder-Loffland asked whether small and medium trees are defined in the proposed ordinance and Mr. Sulton said yes. Chairman Menzie suggested having a list of such trees that can be referred to and Commissioner Tedder-Loffland agreed. Mr. Sulton said Mr. Rieger, Staff and the Tree Board have Tree Board Page 3 of 3 November 5, 2018 an opportunity to do something really good for the City. Ms. Walker said she will request Mr. Rieger to send comments regarding the proposal to her and then she will set up a meeting and invite the sub-committee (Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Huffman and Spain) in order to tweak the proposed ordinance. Commissioner Tedder-Loffland felt she needed to remind everyone that the trees that were removed on Berry Road were at the homeowner’s request. Commissioner Tedder-Loffland made the motion and Commissioner Spain seconded to include a vegetation management plan/ordinance with the potential tree ordinance. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner NAY: None ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 7, being: MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION None. ITEM 8, being: ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Tedder-Loffland made the motion and Commissioner Spain seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, Tedder-Loffland, and Winegardner NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2018 Don Menzie, Chairperson