HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Tree Advisory Committee - 08/13/2015 TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, August 13, 2015 4:00 p.m.
3rd Floor Parks & Recreation Department Conference Room
City Hall, 1201 Leopard St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
MINUTES
I. Call to Order—4:10
II. Roll Call of Members- Phillip Christian,
Present— Campos, Christian, Ehlen, Grant, Rodriguez,
Not Present— Fratila
Staff— Balderaz, Talbert-Anaya, Clayton,
III. Adoption of Minute dated May 14, 2015 should reflect proper year on heading. Minutes adopted for June 9,
no meeting held. Campos motioned, Christian seconded; all in favor
IV. Public Comment—
1. As a Certified Arborist Ehlen has received calls from City Park and Rec (PARD)Staff to provide
assistance in evaluating the health and safety of trees on private property. There are times his
investigation concludes that a tree is a hazard/liability and recommends it be removed. What
recorse does the PARD have to remove the trees if private citizens are financially unable to?
The PARD is working to have funding to assist private home owners with removal. Talbert-Anay
will follow up on strategies that are available or under development
V. Presentations—To create a thesis on the City of Corpus Christi's Tree Canopy, graduate Student, Alex
discussed needing a street tree inventory of three percent (3%)of city streets, medians and right of ways to
be able to provide a City-Wide Cost/Benefit Analysis. This will give him enough information to provide a
report that contains 90% accuracy. Due to the time requirements, he can conduct 1% but would only be able
to provide information on a single city district. Alex will provide a detailed letter stating the goals and
objectives to PARD to be able to obtain assistance for the additional two percent inventory (2%). The
timelines are to complete inventory by May 2016 for a final report provided by September 2016. To assist in
the process, Alex also needs the total percentage of city parks that were sampled.
VI. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action —
1. Brent provided brief background on a new initiative for Residential Tree Requirements. In
addition to writing and approving updates, that will also be reflected in the city's Unified
Development Codes, it will be important to have staff for inspecting and ensuring compliance.
Requested feedback from Tree Advisory Committee Members by November meeting on plant
list that has been compiled from various sources. Will provide a brief presentation on what other
City's are doing to support their own version of this initiative and how they are enforcing it
VII. Old Business for Discussion and Possible Action —
1. Much of the plan is underway
VIII. Identify Items to be placed on next Agenda—Sept 10, 2015
1. Strategies for hazardous tree removal
2. Presentation by Brent Clayton
3. Thesis project update
IX. Adjourn — 5:08 Rodriguez motioned, Campos seconded; all in favor