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Minutes
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
2:00 p.m.
Conference Room
Parks, Arts & Recreation Administration Building
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:08 pm by Chair Bryce Landrud.
Additional board members attending were Arnie Galli and Lonnie Sundal. Also present at the
meeting were Maintenance & Operations Manager Randy Bailey, Parks Horticulturist Richard
Valenti, and Parks Secretary Julie Mehl.
II. Minutes
The March minutes were approved with the following spelling correction: "Stewartia"tree.
III. Correspondence/Public Input
The Tree Board received a letter from citizen Dawn Moser regarding the Flowering Plum trees
on 8`h St SE, suggesting that they need maintenance.
IV. Old Business
Board Chair Bryce heard from the owner of the Oak Trees on 4�" St NE. They discussed a bid
for tree care but the owner was having a water leak issue so Bryce didn't get the chance to ask
about Heritage nominations. Bryce will contact owner in the future regarding Heritage status.
Lonnie asked if the invitation has gone out to the HOA's in Auburn. Julie has not forwarded to
Community Services yet, needs to get an approval from Parks Director Daryl Faber. Chair Bryce
adds that we can't will our way into these meetings, but we can offer to help with City Codes
and solutions to tree issues.
Randy Bailey, Maintenance & Operations Manager explains the process the City uses for tree
trimming. Randy states that M & O uses door hangers to notify private tree owners of the date
the City will trim the trees, giving the tree owners to opportunity to prune the trees themselves.
Randy states if we see a tree not in compliance with our codes or if we receive a complaint of a
tree blocking a sidewalk, sign or traffic signal, we let the owners know via door hangers when
we will come and prune their tree(s). We began using the door hangers about five years ago
when folks said, "It sure would be nice if you'd let us know because we would like to trim our
own trees" so we gave them the opportunity to do that. If they don't trim the trees by the
deadline, we go in and do it. On the backside of the door hangers, it gives an example of the
code requirements, 7'to 8'vertically from the sidewalk and Randy states that we stay very
close to that requirement. We will generally tiy to do our best aesthetically to trim the
branches, but.often timestrim to the trunk for the safety of pedestrians and vehicles. The
parking strips have had issues in the past with trucks catching &tearing tree branches and the
Vegetation Department does their best to stay within the guidelines to protect the motoring and
pedestrian traffic. Chairperson Bryce adds that he noticed the trees on 8"' Street had been
trimmed and since he does work for the ownership group he wondered if the owners had
trimrried the trees. They didn't know so Parks Secretary Julie called Vegetation and found out
they had fimmed the trees. IYs a good example of how it has to be managed frbm your
standpoint and for the aesthetic and maybe everybody is not on the same page. Asqlundh had
that issue, they had the guidelines and a lot of thei�employees just whacked the branches off.
We thought as a Tree Board we would like everyone on the same page. We certainly don't
want Maintenance &Operatioris angry, we do see their purpose but think it eould look bettgr
rather Ehan I.eaving stubs. If we could help or make suggestions, maybe a one time workshop.
There are so many pruning standards and codes that have been developed forthese types of
applications. Randy has talked to the crew about some mini training sessions and the crew is
open to the idea. They maintain the ponds as well and they like everytfiing to be pretty so
they are open to suggestions on how to maintain it better. Randy Bailey also adds Ehat if we
have to top a tree we will talk to the property owner and they will usually remove the tree.
Randy atso states that we tend to do the squa�e cut, removing the least amount possible and
the owner can then hire or finish the pruning foraesthetics from that point, Bryce states the
City of Kent has'�malpruning"wording in their code yet they whacked some Sweet Gums down
to 12' high and someone complained so they had fo remove the trees because they were
ruined. Another example Bryce shared with the board was Safeway had an employee cut some
trees which were blocking their signs. They cut 75 trees to 4' high, cutting all the branches and
tops off. The Ciry went after their management company and wanted them to replace all the
trees because of malpruning. The management company didn't know anything about it.
V. New Business
VI. Board Recommendations/Input
VII. Department Report
Horticulturist Richard Valenti states that Spring time wbrk has begun. The weeds were
beginning to get ahead of the crew and that mowing is in full swing. Parks Maintenance is
getEing everything readyfor flowers. Richard would like to remove the Sweet Gums on 15"' NW
but is waiting for Mike Miller to retum. One of them has a hole in the base which is rotting.
The Garden Club has potted 1000 Nemesia, 1000 Dianthus; 500 Salvia and 1000 Lob.elia which
will go out in about a month. The Geraniums are readyto be p.lanted.
Board member Lonnie Sundal states that accoriiing to the Auburn Reporter, Citizens are happy
again with the st�eet medians throughout town. Good job Richard!
Chair Landrud states that the Volunteer Luncheon on April 25`" woultl be a great opportunity to
solicitfor a few more Tree Board members. Bryce attended a Chamberl.uncheon and stated it
was not much of a networking event. They had a really good speaker but everyone left
afterward. Bryce chatted with a few folks at his table 6ut no one was available to volunteer on
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the Tree Board. Bryce will ask a client who lives in the Jomada neighborhood, she is ve_ry
involved and is working with Bryce and Jamie Kelly in the Planning Department on some
Cottonwoods. Horticulturist Richard Valenti suggests soliciting volunteers from the Aubum
Valley Humane Society as well.
VIII. Adjou�nment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:42 pm.
Approved this ' ! day of ��, 013
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