pressure. It is. You got to wait till the very end. You don't want to start too early. I'm watching somebody. Put new curtains up. testing. There's people here.
party started. Want to turn your microphones on. Barbara, your microphone. Sorry. Good afternoon. In compliance with in accordance with the open public meetings act of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided and
advertised. Would you please rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley
and justice for all. All right, Carol, would you take role please? Sure. Uh, that's good. Whoa. Jay is excused. Uh, George A here. Uh, Carol Sick here. Barb
here. George W. Here. Jim here. Frank here. Uh, Joelle and Tracy are excused. I'm also here. Shane's here, too.
Oh, Shane. I'm sorry. Don't be sorry. Mark who is present. We've received the minutes of the meeting and we have them in our packets. Um, by now I'm sure everyone has taken a look at those. Are there any changes or
corrections that need to be made? If not, I will make a uh ask for a motion to accept the minutes from the meeting. I'll make a motion. Carol. Yep. We want to second that. Second. Who is that? Jim.
Do we need a roll call vote for that? Better do a roll call vote. Sure. Um, George A. Yes. Carol. Oh, Vic. Yes. Barb, approving the minutes. Oh, okay. Yes, I approve. Yes.
George W. Yes. Jim, yes. All right, we have a few guests in the audience. Um, I think we'll begin with Mr. Frink once again. Yes. Um, you
have anything new to add to the uh I'm just I was told that the first item on the agenda was going to be uh I guess I don't I don't I thought that at the last meeting it was voted upon and agreed upon that the trees were dead and
that all you would need was an email from the um arborist which has been sent and that we would be receiving a response to acknowledge it and so that we could proceed with cutting down the dead trees. We we have not put that up for a vote,
so we will do that right now. Um since the trees are dead, I will make a motion that we uh allow the trees to be removed without replacement. This is for 1309. Yes. Uh 1309 Maryland, correct? Well, it's actually the trees are on the
property of 1308 Idaho. Yeah. Make sure that's on the record, I think. Yeah. All right. I made a motion, a second on that. Jim, who? Jim. Jim. Seconded.
Um, okay. Here we go. Here we go. Uh, George A. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. Barb, yes. We approve that to approve that. We'll approve it at this time. Yes. I'm saying. Yeah, we approved that. What was it?
Yes, I approve. Okay, George W. Yes, Jim. Yes, Trees. Go. Thank you. All right. Hey, thanks everybody. Thank you. Have a great day.
Okay. Okay. Um, Mr. Chairman. Yes. some of our neighbors on the should. Okay, sure. Uh, city manager Dietri, do you
have anything to report? Thank you. Um I talked to uh you regarding um there was a request about uh to trim two trees on at the corner of Trenton and New New York Avenue at 108
Trenton. Um we looked at them. The the tree maintenance persons that was looking at them had concerns over the I'll say the general health of the tree and wanted the trade sheet commission to take a look at them. I know that both you and George Wernner both looked
at them and I just was wondering and I did send an email in the findings in my observations. Go ahead. I didn't know what you know I guess did we want to move that you know findings for for the next meeting so everybody could be take a relook at it. I mean
they'll have to take a look at it because they are street trees but um I do want to clarify that the one tree is a large silver lind and it's not right. Yeah, I the locust I um it's at that address that uh what is it? So it's it's 108 Trenton
108 Trenton but is actually on the New York Yeah it's the 108 Trenton is the the front of the house but the the the trees are actually on the New York Avenue side, right? Um but you know they're both street trees and um from what I observed they're in a both in a
state of decline. Um, but I think since they are street trees, we all need to weigh in in that before the next meeting, everyone take a look at it so that it goes before the whole commission. Anything further? Is that the uh east side or west side of the street?
That would be on the the south side on on the New York on beach. Beach side. The beach side. Thank you. On on New York. I used to park my car in it. I donate those trees. Still can.
And any other items to bring up? No, that's all I had. Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Uh I don't see Bill Miller here from code enforcement, so I guess we'll just move on from that. Uh in old business, we already have spoken with Mr. Frink. Um the
application for 1155 Washington Street. At the last meeting, I mentioned about since it is a street tree for all the commissioners to please take a look at that tree. It's a silver maple that's been severely pruned in the past. It does have some structural issues. Um,
but it does not appear to be in imminent danger, in my opinion, of falling or anything like that. But I would like to uh I welcome comments from the other commissioners who took a look at that tree. Well, I looked at the tree and I agree with you, George. I also think that the
ivy should be removed off the tree and then we get a better look and maybe the tree has a better chance of surviving. Okay. I wouldn't take it down. Okay. Anyone else want to weigh in on that particular tree? I just I agree with Carol.
Okay. The ivy in the tree. Okay. Well, there should be a uh we need a motion on keeping that tree. I mean, it is on the agenda. Yeah. have to make a decision. Yeah. At this point, I think we're going
to let the tree uh remain and take care of the ivy and we'll revisit at a future date and I will put that in the form of a motion that the tree remains. Do I have a second? Second. Carol, would you call roll? Uh yes.
Um George, yes. Carol Sick, yes. What was that? Yes. Okay. Barb, yes. George W. Yes. Jim, yes.
Okay. Tree stads. Okay. Thank you. There are no street tree removals. Other than that, the tree removal permit applications. Um, I guess we should discuss each one individually. I'll begin because 227
Perry Street is in my district. I took a look at these trees. The trees that are in question are a palonia and a Norway maple. Um the Norway maple is actually growing into the existing structure. The branches are actually growing into the side of the building and the palonia is
considered a weed tree to begin with and that is right up against the existing structure that's going to be renovated. The roots are obviously underneath that building. So, um, the applicant is asking that they have permission to remove both those trees, and I I concur
with that that application. So, that's that one. So, I'll make a motion that 227 Perry Street has the permission to take down the Palonia and the uh, Norway Maple that are growing into the existing little garage that's
on the property. George, do we want to do all at the same time or I think we better discuss each one separately. How do you want to do it? Yeah, we'll do one each one individ so there's not that many. So, okay. Do I have a second on that motion? Second.
Jim, I'll call the role. Um, George A. Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. Barb, yes. George W. Yes. Jim,
yes. tree goes two two trees trees go. Okay. Um 825 to 827 Washington Street. Barbara, that's your district. And uh I wrote to say that the situation
was is that the landscaper and the people looking at the trees said that it was in poor condition, but there was no explanation as to what the poor condition was. And therefore I wrote and said that I would like everybody to uh
take a look and see what they thought because uh yes it it seems to be a healthy tree and all the other trees that they're doing are just kind of trimming and so forth. Well, I have photos of that tree that particular waiting for everybody else to give their take on that.
Yes. Identify please. I have an application. The John could identify himself. I don't see that on the agenda. No, I haven't. When I saw 825 to 827,
I assumed that that was my property because I'm at 822 and but 822 is on the opposite side of the street. You're on the you're you're you're across the street from this
I still that's where I live and I'm the trees that I'm talking about on my property on my next door neighbor's property. This is property family property and the trees have been
dead for a couple years and yeah let me I also already enforcement and Mr. Miller came down about a month ago. Sir, so we you can say all of this at the time, but we're we're working
through the agenda right now. Okay. Please, please share with us, but we have to have you on record and has to be recorded. Okay. Yeah. Sorry about that. Thank you. The trees are getting ready to come down. I've already picked up 120
on my property and I can't wait any longer to have something done. Well, we'll we'll come back to you in a in a in a few minutes. Uh but we're I'm going to continue with the 825 827 that we're speaking about.
So, I have that application here for removal. I took a look at that tree myself. It is a large popppler tree at the rear of the garden. There's several trees in that backyard. Um the hackberry was also mentioned, but that I believe is just going to be trimmed. Um but that
tree that that we're talking about there is in very poor condition. There's very little leaves in the on the tree itself and um it's covered with vines. I don't think the vines are the cause of the decline at this in this particular situation, but the tree is in very poor
um condition. and I don't have a problem if if they want to take that down. So, you have pictures. I do have the pictures somewhere. I just had them. Anyway, we'll take a look at the pictures first. Well, that's
this. You can see there's no leaves. It's just vines. Would you like to take a look at these photos? Yes, please. Okay. This is the tree. Thank you. What month is that?
So, in in light of um the photos and the findings of two commissioners. I would like to make a motion that we give permission for that large popular street at the rear of 825 827 Washington Street to be removed. I'll second it. Carol second. Would you roll call,
please? Sure. Uh George, yes. Carol Sick, yes. Barb, yes. Uh George, yes. Jim. Yes.
Okay. Tree goes 209 Congress Place uh is a tree that's between two homes um at Congress Place. This tree was brought up several years ago with the owner looking for removal of the tree. Um it was denied at that
time. The tree is not leaning at any significant degree at this point. And I see no reason for that tree to be taken down at this point. It doesn't seem to pose a threat, an imminent threat uh to either property because it's not leaning in a significant uh doesn't doesn't have
a significant angle of of lean to it. So, I'm going to uh I think the tree should remain. I also took a look at the tree and the tree u is defined by the state which u uses the phrase imminent. Um there's
nothing imminent about that. Right. Okay. Okay. In light of that though, I do have to put it in in the form of a motion and I will make a motion that the tree at 209 Congress place be removed. Do I have a second? Yep. So, a yes vote means it would be removed. A no vote means it would stay.
Yes. All right. Would you do roll call, please, Carol? Sure. George A. No. Carol Sick, no. Barb, yes. George W. No. Jim, no.
tree stays. Uh, next is 303 South Broadway. Uh, the applicant wants to remove a Bradford pair that's very close to the house in the backyard. Bradford pears are now considered to be a weed tree to begin with because they're uh more of a
nuisance than anything and most municipalities are taking them down even though even some that are quite healthy. This particular tree is not it's really not uh leaning but it does have a lot of dieback and uh it's close to the house and since it is that
species of tree I don't have a problem with that tree being removed. I would recommend to the homeowner and I will put that in the form of an email um that the the other large Bradford pair in the backyard is leaning significantly and I would have a crown reduction put uh done
on that tree. So, I will make a motion to remove the Bradford pair that's closest to the rear of the house at 303 South Broadway. I'll second it. Okay. Call roll, please. I wish I told you about you race.
Excuse me. No, no, no. This is on 303 Broadway. It's a pear tree right behind us. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. Okay, George A. Yes. What? So, what was the motion you just made when they that they can cut the tree down? It's a Bradford pair. concerned about that then it's declining. Okay.
Carol Sick. Yes. Barb, yes. George W. Yes. Uh Jim, yes. Trios. Okay. 1513 New Jersey Avenue. Jim, would you like to give a report on that?
Yeah, please. Thank you. Um I was over at uh 1513 New Jersey Avenue. It's the Suriri Condominium Association. Um, it's a bike path of mine and I've noticed that there have been remnants of seasons
past of old canopy. This tree has been dead for years, seasons upon seasons um um expediently. I'm just going to I I recommend that the tree be removed
um pending all fees. I also took a look at that tree. It's completely dead. It's a mimosa tree, which is another tree that is kind of considered to be a weed tree. Um, but this one is dead. And uh, I think it should go too. And there's
photos of it there. I can show you. We can get them back down that end of the table. Okay. No. Carol, would you like to? Thank you. Confirmed.
You've seen it. All right. I will make a motion that the uh that the dead mimosa at Siri condominiums uh 1513 New Jersey Avenue be removed. Seconded. Jim second. Okay. Jim. Uh George A.
Yes. Carol Sick. Yes. Barb. Yes. George W. Yes. Jim. Yes. Okay. Tree goes. All right. Next up is the subcommittee report.
Um subcommittee met. Um uh really nothing substantial from our from our last session. I think we'll have uh several items to discuss next month. Right. There's some things in the works. Okay. Thank you. New business. I have
just something I want to bring up. I'm not sure if this is new business or old business, but last uh month we spoke about um only putting in tree trim requests if property owner owners
request it. And I was just wondering um if possibly when we do the budget next year, we could put extra funds in there for tree trimming because it really does make a big difference on how the tree looks.
There are about four or five trees in my district that were trimmed last year that I requested and they look so much better now that they've been trimmed. They kind of fill out. They don't have all these dead. Right. So, I think it's just as important to
look at trimming trees as it is to whether we remove them or or don't remove them. Well, I understand. Yes. And I do agree with that to a point. We just have budgetary constraints. Well, that's why I say let's increase the budget. Well, I'm not the one to talk to about
that. Well done. Well done. Hey, we did good last time. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you, Carol. We'll work on that. But, you know, on on your comment, I think as a commissioner, your comments weigh heavily and I think if you want to make a recommendation, I think that's
acceptable from anybody on this body. Sure, I'll recommend. How do I do that? Form of a motion right now or or discuss it and put it on the agenda for next month. Okay. So, make sure everybody looks at these trees and uh and get their gives get their opinion. Okay. So, what do we what are we talking about
so far? Do you know yet? Well, I don't have the addresses right now, but put on the email. Put on the agenda. I'll send I'll send out an email with the addresses. Okay. Thank you. All right. Council report. I don't have anything new right now. Okay. Public works.
Nothing new. All right. Public George. Um, under new business I was going to bring up for a uh a resident at 1041 New York Avenue. Two crate Myrtles. Yes. Please. Thank you very much. Okay. Go ahead. Um, I visited with um um
the homeowner and and I I was um concerned about his um his concerns. Um, I hope that crepe myrtles are not on the
um the new list for trees to be um included into our selection of of trees because it it appears that you can only prune these trees between late February and early March. That's when it's ideal. Yes. And that's and that's really difficult
for our certified municipal arborists to go out and do that. Well, the thing of it is that these trees weren't even trimmed by art. That's No, that that that's true. Then I I'm going I'm going to go backwards a little bit. Um what had happened was
ACCE had made a pruning effort as the base trunk of the tree was hitting our power service. And I explained to the homeowner, there's no way we can get in the way of that because they're they are
their components. one and number two, interrupted service is not a good thing. However, he wants to see if he can bring these trees around and he'd do it on his own dime. I would like to make a motion that we allow him to do that on his own dime
though it is the street tree. I know I'm breaking um I'm breaking stride here. I don't know that we have that ability to allow that. And and I think that then it comes down into a a question of who's going to be doing the work, who's the arborist that he's going to hire,
who's the, you know, and uh and they are a public um entity. I mean, now mind you, when I made that motion, I'm not looking for I was just saying that I was going to make that motion for him knowing that there might be some
type of We can look into that, but I don't think that's something that we can actually authorize. Okay. I don't think we can even set a press and some somebody wants to go. Yeah, somebody wants to go out. I'll speak I'll speak to the homeowner after this meeting
and just advise you address 1041 New York Avenue. Gotcha. There's nothing to discuss with that. Connie, I don't have anything on 822. Okay. All right. Well, it's time for Georgia. Carol, did you have something
you wanted to to say? This is complete sidebar. Doesn't really have a whole lot to do with total discussion. Um, my older son lives in Mlan, Virginia, and he lives in a development of probably about 60 years old. And recently, there was a storm.
wind and rain took down, I guess, split a tree in his yard and he has to remove it. And the neighbor next door said to him, also a huge oak tree in his yard next to my son's yard and he said, "I'm going to take this tree down because I'm
afraid it's going to fall in my house and another storm." And my son is upset about this because, you know, it's beauty and another tree. And his wife, the wife of the man next door, doesn't want him to take it down. Some of the other neighbors don't want him to take
it down, but my son said to me, "We don't have a shade tree commission." It's true. And I wish we did. Yeah. So, I'm just bringing this up because we have the ability to prevent these kinds of things and I don't think we should
lose sight of our mission. We're here for the truth. Exactly. I agree. That just made me think, oh, you know, good comment. Yeah, just a comment. It is. Thank you very much. And I agree. All right. I guess it's time for the
public comments. Um sir, from 822 Washington, would you like to should come up? Yeah, you'll have to come. If you want to speak, you'll have to come up and uh state your name and address, please. We're going to keep public comment to
five minutes if that's okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. It's Larry Hatch, 822 Washington Street. And the trees that I'm talking about are actually it's only one tree, but it looks like two, one stump. Um,
I've been trying to get in contact with my neighbor uh for two years about the trees. I know they've been dead. I didn't make too much of an issue, but I've tried to get hold of him five times. I wrote him a personal letter.
uh explaining to him that I would be willing to take the trees down. He didn't have to be involved at all. Just give me permission to have the tree service come and remove the trees and I would pay for it. Uh uh
he does not get back to me. I I don't know why. Um so my question sir is are the trees on your property or on your neighbor's propert on the line. They're on the line. So it requires both of us I assume. Yes.
Uh and I don't know why the gentleman I've been to the shelf three different times made one phone call. I I left letters or notes. The lady at the shelf always puts it in his inbox. She says I
made one personal phone call. I talked to a lady down there. She said okay. And told her the problem. She says okay. I'll see that he gets the message. I never hear anything. And you mailed them. I went to code enforcement. Uh he was there over a month ago, took pictures. I
called court enforcement two times, went to the office here another time and explained to her. She went back to see if anybody was there. I can't get in touch with him. He doesn't get back to me. So I called u um Michael uh Notch
and asked him to come look at the trees because he has done some pruning uh for us before. And uh he looked over the trees. She says, "Yes, the trees are definitely dead, and I know that
one large limb right now, if it falls, if it comes down, it's going to either hit my automobiles and it will hit part of the house." Uh, the reason why I'm so concerned about it is I've already picked up one 20 foot limb about two to
two and a half inches in diameter on my property that just missed my car by a foot. Uh, and I just cut that up and threw it out. Uh, continuing trying to get hold of Mr. Muhok. I don't know why they
don't. So, whenever I talked to Michael, he told me to go ahead and submit an application. He said he will try to talk to the mayor about it because that's his brother. And, uh, he only lives I mean,
he can see my house from his property, right? So, I don't I don't understand what's going on, but it's become a serious problem. Uh my wife and I are always out cleaning our property. Uh have pavers and we're out there. It's
like a kitchen floor to her. And uh we're always out there cleaning, especially this time of year. Uh and I see a limb coming down on somebody or something. It's begin to be and not only that but a peckerwood
has been working on one of the trees for about two or three years because I get buckets full of sawdust that's on my fence. So the trees need to come down right away. It's not like I haven't been trying to do something about the trees two years ago.
Right. But I I I can't get any cooperation from my neighbor. Okay. Is that 820 Washington? 822 822 Washington. and and they're 826 Washington 826. Okay. Your neighbor's 826,
right? Well, it's it's a rental property. They they rent that property out, but uh one of the tenants died about two or three years ago. Marie Stone was your name. She lived in a property in the back. Uh they gutted the
properties. The doors are always wide open. The house is beginning to rot down. It's like they're not really paying any attention to the property, which is all right. I mean, they had a a fellow coming in uh two or three times a
year u I think his name was Walker doing the yard work and stuff, but we haven't had anybody come and do anything on that property now for I can't remember how long, at least a year and a half. Okay. And uh so I I don't know why they
don't seem to want to get back to us, but uh well, sir, at this point, Mr. Chairman, I um I just received this today. This is this is in my district. Oh, it's your district. Okay. I thought it was Barbers. Um it was just in my packet. Okay. Um may I make a suggestion that that uh
I'll reach out to the uh to your the uh homeowner at 826, right? and uh see if we can um get some movement there. Yeah, my my my property is fenced by the way and of course legally I think the fence has to be inside on my line a
little bit. But if they have to replace any trees, they can't I don't think do it where the tree that's there is coming out. We'll be out there this week. Yeah. And the trees would the new trees would have to be planted on his
property, not my property. So anyway, this sort of dilemma, right? And uh but it it's beginning to get serious. We'll take care of it. Well, thank you. We and uh you've gone through the uh the proper steps. We have the application and you came and you presented your case. So, we will take a
look at those trees. Okay. Well, I appreciate it. And we'll try to get try to get moving on this as soon as we can. Okay. Well, thank you very much. You're welcome. Thank you for coming in. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Next. My name is My name is David King and we
live at Two Harbor Cove and thank you for hearing me and more importantly, thank you for all the work you do. I it it's just I'm in awe of your dedication to preserving the trees in our community. And there is unfortunately a
major issue going on at Harbor Cove Park and we had been told it was coming to come before the committee, all the neighbors there and uh that's why we're here. But it is extremely important for this committee to pay attention to
what's going on there. Harbor View Park presently is in pretty much a state of disrepair and the city has a grant to do some work on it. Um, we have been working with the city's engineer. I tried to reach him until back in the
fall. And to make a long, long story short, we're getting the runaround. Plain and simple. Nobody is paying attention to us. And a final plan was just dropped on us yesterday. Uh my neighbor D Lancelotti
uh said that um she received it, was told it was final, told that we could have no input on it, and it was candidly pretty rude and insulting to her and to me the way been treated on this. The
more important thing is that it was our understanding from meeting with the mayor and city council on August 19th that the engineers designing that park were to meet with us and were to get the neighbors input into that plan. We had
that meeting at the park on August 27th. Uh, Deputy Mayor Moren McDade was there as well. And it was the clear message from Deputy Mayor Moren McDade, the clear message from the engineer working on this, Vince Orlando, that we would be
given an o the new plan would be prepared and we'd be given an opportunity to comment upon it. I drove in this weekend to be here to meet with Vince on it before this committee and he's just been totally avoiding us.
The real issues here are the actions in going forward with this plan are totally inconsistent with what the mayor and and city council told us. I believe that's completely inconsistent with the meaning
of the the open meetings laws. As to how this has been taken place, I don't know what's going on. It's Vince Orlando and some other people designing these things without really getting our input. And um while this is funded by a county
grant, which is to all of our advantage, all of our advantage, I believe that there are also requirements in that county grant system, I don't know this, I'm not an expert, to ensure that there's public support behind the grant.
Most importantly, most importantly, in this plan that was just dropped on us, there are 25 trees being taken down. Pardon me, sir. 25 trees being taken down. Now, a couple of them should be taken down. A couple
of them, there are zumax and trees like that that should be taken down, but there's no rationale whatsoever for taking down most of them. We're not dealing with an issue where we have a front yard set back or a year rear yard set back or any anything like that. The
trees are all being taken down to permit basically the park to be bulldozed without any consideration of whether or not that should be done. They're proposing to plant replant on a 2 to one basis 50 trees and there's a schedule
that we were just dumped on us of those trees and even that schedule gives me some concern. For example, on that schedule there's a a silver birch tree and gray birch, excuse me, gray birch tree and it shows on the schedule it's
25 feet high at its mature size. Well, I happen to know the trees grow much higher than that. Indeed, I looked it up. They're usually 40 and can be up to 50 feet. And when I called Vince Orlando's firm and asked about this, I was told, "Oh, yes, we know that. But
the city is also going to put into place a process for uh continuing to maintain those trees at that height. I'm not aware of that. Nobody's told us. And it certainly has not been in the materials here.
So, my bottom line is I don't know what your authority is on this. I'm candidly pretty annoyed that I drove here to show up at a meeting where I thought this was going to be approved, where I was told that it was going to be approved, where
I was told that we would have input into it and we've just been blown away without that pretty rudely. So, it's a little bit annoying, but I do think it's certainly within the purview of of this committee, and I've heard your
wonderful, just awesome, incredible passion for preserving the trees in our beautiful community to look into this and these trees that they are just ripping out. They're proposing to rip out a whole bunch of holly trees and
then replant them. Holly trees. Why? I mean, this is a matter that is as important. And I also think candidly the rules apply to the city that apply to a developer. So, you're going to get another developer in here that just says
that you will say to that developer, gee, you know, this tree is really beautiful. Why can't you preserve it? And that developer is going to say to you, well, look what you did with the city. you told the city they could just bulldo whatever they want and replant
wherever they did. So this is of concern. It's a very serious concern and I urge this committee to step into it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you. All right. I don't know that there's
anything else. Anyone else from the public here? No. Does anybody else from the public want to speak? We have the enforcement. You want to speak? Oh, code enforcement. Do you have any reports for us? I just came in to tell you that Washington Street Bill.
Could you come up here and Thank you. Yeah. I just came in to tell you Bill Miller, he's out on the road, but uh the one on Washington Street, he he he was just saying he can't enforce the homeowner to cut down those trees. He he did speak to the homeowner, but
I'm not sure which which one we're talking about on Washington Street. the street. The gentleman was just here. Oh. Oh. 820 822. Yes. Um he did talk to the owner, but he said he cannot force the owner to cut down those trees. So it's up to somebody else to convince him to cut them down.
Okay. That's all. All right. I was coming. Thank you. Yep. All right. Five minutes. I'll just briefly I'll just briefly respond uh regarding Harvey View Park. As you know, you know,
the city's been looking at redeveloping Harvey Park for over a year. The plans have generally been on the website for a good part of that time period. Uh the plans were presented at council, approved by council and council did, you
know, ask city to meet with some of the residents. Um the original plan I think had upwards of 80 some trees, 70. you know, trees proposed in that location. Um,
and that was reviewed by Shade Tree and we, you know, we did make some plan revisions based on Sha Tre's comments to the original plan. Uh, we went out and met with the neighbors and, you know, to be honest,
when they first met with us, they said they wanted zero trees. We said, "Zero trees just doesn't work." So we went back and did that inventory. We inventoried and and found that we had, you know, that we knew we had to comply with Sha Tre's recommendations of a 2:1
replacement. So we looked at and did a comprehensive tree inventory. He is correct or we're looking at removing 25 trees. So at a minimum we should be planting 50 trees, which was obviously 50 more than what the residents wanted.
Um, you know, they asked for smaller sized trees and, you know, really trees to really protect their views from their homes, not really looking at the enhancement of the park for the city as a city park. Um,
we made some additional modifications to the plans to kind of work with that. I think that the current plan I think might have a little bit more than 50, but um has been revised and um that was the plan that we're going to
move forward based on recommendations from administration and council members. At this point, that's what we're we're looking at finalizing that plan. I'll I'll distribute that to the members just so that you would do can see you know what that's been revised but you will
note that there's been a large number of shade trees have been removed um the number of C tree total trees has been reduced the trees that have been selected are I'll say selected
for slower growing varieties smaller or dwarf variety trees compared to the ones that were originally proposed um that you saw for your plan, but I will distribute that plan. Um thank you. Okay. Thank you,
Mr. Chair. I would ask while Paul is talking if the city has formally agreed to maintain the trees, the silver birches at 25 as in I don't know anything about that at this point. And Paul is right here. You can tell us
we'll be maintaining the park. That was the point. The question is the plan was trees 25 with the architect saying sir I think this is something that that we're we're the shade tree commission and we're right now this is not our our
thing. We have to wait until these plans are definitely if they are finalized well this is something that doesn't pertain to us right now at this point. So I don't this is not the place to discuss that. you'd have to have I would set up a meeting you know individually or whatever with whoever you want to
discuss it with but it's not our respectfully when he presents a plan says trees are 25 ft high where the trees grow to 40 to 50t that's just fooling everybody and if indeed there is
a requis understand. I'm unaware of any agreement of that type. So I I can't comment any further. And the only time something can be formalized is at the city council table. We're going to have to formalize it and we're going to have to look at all the
aspects of it um in front of in public, you know, and that includes the maintenance plan. Well, I I would hope so then it would be on the record. I I would hope that you do that in open passion providing residents the
opportunity for input directly the opposite of the way this is proceeded. I think uh I think everybody if anybody's watching this meeting the opportunity that you have as a citizen whether you live in that neighborhood or not is to look on the website check out
the plan and send your comments to city council and to the city uh manager's office and this includes everybody on this body. you you have access to this plan, you should look at it as a commissioner or a citizen, you have the right to make a comment. Sounds good to me. Thank you. And if and if if and if the commission
does have a uh unified uh thought that you want to formalize as a commission and send it to the city council, that's when that's when you do it. All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. I think that gives you you have to record, sir.
Tell us your name, please. Hi, I'm I'm Rich Ellis. I'm I live at 1411 Harbor Lane. And at this point, I just want to ask a process question because it's true. I'm here because I thought this was an agenda item, and I wanted to hear what people were saying about what's going on at the park, what
the actual plan is going forward. And so, what I think I heard was that this isn't on the agenda. But my question is, is it going to be is the new plan coming to you at some point or is it already revised fits some sort of non-review
criteria and it moves forward without a discussion? Because I think that there are other neighbors who wanted to attend today who couldn't for whatever conflict and I just don't know what to go back and say in terms of like is there going to be a shade tree commission discussion of this? And I'll leave it at that.
Well, as Commissioner Meyer just said, um we'll all have to weigh on in on it. You know, we'll take a look at the plans and whatnot, and you're welcome to do the same, and then you can voice your opinions or or input uh in via email or at the public meeting of of
So, is there a formal like will it be on the agenda sometime like I know it's we can talk to city council? I doubt it's going to be on our agenda. Okay. I I don't foresee that being on our agenda. I think it would be up to city council once the plans are are Okay. Because when we had the meeting in August and we talked about what the
residents wanted and I think we were coming to an alternative plan which I think is somewhat represented in what's called what's the revised plan. Our understanding was we'd see it again. We didn't and then but it was coming here today. So there was a lot of urgency among the residents like wait a minute
we were supposed to get another look and maybe you know and so that didn't happen. But I guess you know what I want to understand is if there's going to be another meeting that people know there's going to be a meeting and they can input understanding that there's lots of other avenues the council and other things to
talk about this park. But I just wanted to understand whether that's you know like because at the meeting it was sort of represented to us like well we can't go ahead with the plan you want because the shade tree commission will go never go for it. But none of us understood what kind of like what you do what the requirements were
or anything else. So this was sort of a mystery meeting. So that's in part why I wanted to come and also if it were going to talk about the you know the trees in that park but fundamentally I'm still kind of a process question as to like I understand you have the ultimate authority on what comes gets cut down
and what gets planted all of that but well when it comes to the process this is a city project. Yeah. So city projects kind of can go around the rules you know. Okay. Um, and we are advisory. So, we they do hear from us about our opinions. You know, I think a lot of our opinions stem from, you know,
maintenance, uh, irrigation, uh, the type of tree that's going to be next to these next to the ocean in order to the harbor. That's that's our concerns mostly. You know, we we care about the trees. We care more about these trees living longer lives. you know, um in the
past with city projects like uh like uh Kuanas Park, Rotary Park, and some of the other parks, we've just been advisory to that. So, we've we've given our opinion, but essentially, it's city council to look at as a citywide project.
Okay, that's fair. That's that's very clarifying. It's really kind of what I wanted to understand. So when I go back and talk to the neighbors, they understand like who they need to talk to because otherwise you might be getting phone calls. But it sounds like the the project is a city level, the city
council, the mayor. Those are the people you need to talk to if you still have an issue with what's happening here process-wise or substantively with the plan. Is that absolutely happy to take your emails and Okay, I appreciate that. I just wanted that clarification.
Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. All right. Anything else from the audience or from the board? If not, I'll make a motion to adjourn this meeting. Do I have a second?
Second.