HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 12493 (Establish Tree Advisory Commitee)RESOLUTION NO. 12493
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
ESTABLISHING A TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael values and shares in our community's desire to support,
preserve and maintain our City Trees; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael recognizes the importance of our community trees, and to
this end has been recognized as a Tree City USA for the past 26 years; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has adopted a specific series of goals for street trees in
General Plan 2020. These goals include creating street tree planting and maintenance programs
and encouraging the use of large canopy trees where appropriate in order to control temperature,
improve air quality, control wind, define neighborhoods, and improve street appearance; and
WHEREAS, residents and other community stakeholders of the City of San Rafael have come
forth to the City Council and expressed a desire to have the City Council consider establishing an
appointed body in order to address the street tree goals outlined in General Plan 2020, and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to establish a Tree Advisory Committee:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. The Council hereby establishes a Tree Advisory Committee consisting of (7) members who
are residents within San Rafael, requiring four (4) members to be individuals with interest in
City street tree issues. Remaining member appointments include one representative each
from the business community, Parks & Recreation Commission and Design Review Board.
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2. The Committee shall meet within one month after appointment of its members. The City
Council shall appoint a Chair. The Committee shall select a regular time and place of
meetings (at least bi-monthly). The Committee shall be appointed for a period of eighteen
(18) months in order to complete the goals listed below. All meetings shall comply with the
Brown Act, FPPC filings and the City's Ethics and Travel Reimbursement Policy.
3. The Committee shall be advisory to the Parks and Recreation Commission and to the City
Council and shall have the following goals:
• Develop a comprehensive citywide street tree strategy, which could include
appropriate guidelines, policies and best practices. This task must include a fiscal
analysis of all recommendations.
• Create a system for regular reporting, tracking, and communication with PG&E and
the community regarding tree maintenance in relation to power lines.
• Research and report on current opportunities for public private partnerships and
public education programs.
• Examine alternatives (including budgetary impacts) for conducting a street tree
inventory and make recommendations on how to proceed with said inventory.
• Work with staff to implement the strategies indentified in the tasks above.
4. The City Council directs staff to commence the application process so that candidates can be
considered and appointments made in a timely manner.
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City
Council of said City held on Monday, the 19th day of May, 2008 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Miller & Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
WACity Managers- WorkFile\Council Material\Resolutions\2008\tree advisory comm reso.doc
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Agent._. Item No:
15
Meeting Date: May 19, 2008
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: CITY MANAGER
Prepared by: Ken Nordhoff, City Manager Approval: 'U i
City Manager p
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
ESTABLISHING A TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution establishing a Tree Advisory Committee
BACKGROUND: The importance of trees to our community has been known and expressed
by our residents for some time. The following summarizes our most recent goals, priorities and
activities:
General Plan 2020. The Infrastructure Element of General Plan 2020 included a number of
program goals related to our San Rafael public assets. The specific goals related to street
trees include:
1-8. Street Trees.
Create street tree planting and maintenance programs and encourage the use of large
canopy trees where appropriate in order to control temperature, improve air quality,
control wind, define neighborhoods, and improve street appearance.
■ I -8a Street Tree Program. Develop a comprehensive citywide street tree planting,
maintenance, replacement, diversification, wood utilization and tree waste -recycling
program. The citywide street tree program should consider the use of large canopy
trees where the planting areas and locations make such trees feasible and
appropriate. Include coordination and communication with PGFtE regarding tree
maintenance in relation to power lines. Utilize volunteers to the extent feasible in
creating a street tree inventory.
1-8b. Street Trees for New Development. Require street trees at frequent spacing
in all new developments and property upgrades, and consider mitigation for tree
removal by planting street trees in locations other than the project site.
File No.: of -
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
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Council Meeting: �'/9/ 09,
Disposition: v'� (J1'�'E��ll /�4 %•
SAN RAFAEL CITY C UNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Paee: z.
-8c. Street Tree Maintenance. Seek diversified funding sources for street tree
maintenance and replacement.
I -8d. Landscape Maintenance Next to Sidewalks. Revise City ordinances to
require maintenance of private landscaping which encroaches onto the City right-of-
way and sidewalks.
2007-09 City Council Priorities. One of the two year City Council efforts (listed in the
neighborhood/economic vitality room of our 'house') is an exploration and consideration of tree
preservation and a sidewalk ordinance. Initial investigations of tree ordinances in other
communities produced a series of information and questions that have been summarized by our
City Attorney's office. The results of their initial review are attached to this report as Attachment
„A„
Green Ribbon Committee. On February 4, 2008 the City Council approved the work program
for the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and called for applications for the Green Ribbon
Committee and Green Teams. The City Council appointed a 14 person Green Ribbon
Committee and an additional 16 individuals were asked to serve on 4 separate "Green Teams",
the purpose of which are to evaluate options and prepare programs and policies for the Climate
Change Action Plan. The Green Team focusing on Land Use and Transportation will also be
vetting ideas around urban forestry. As urban forestry ideas surface, they will be evaluated and
filtered by the Committee for CCAP consideration. No doubt ideas surrounding our tree canopy
and related issues will percolate as the CCAP process continues through early 2009.
Request for Tree Advisory Council. Dating back to last fall, some representatives of our
community have expressed interest in having the City Council consider the formation of a "Tree
Advisory Council". At your meeting of April 7th, neighborhood representatives presented the
details of the proposed Tree Advisory Council. Specific suggestions presented at this meeting
(as recorded in the City Council minutes of April 7, 2008) were as follows:
The Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods recommends the establishment of a Tree
Advisory Council. The proposed Tree Advisory Council will work with City officials to
provide advice and guidance on the following issues:
1) Managing the street tree canopy in a holistic manner that views the canopy as a
community asset that must be sustained and expanded, wherever possible.
2) Developing a specific Tree Planting Strategy that is aligned with a set of Tree Planting
Guidelines and a Tree Ordinance.
3) Providing a positive link to the community with education on tree benefits and tree
strategy.
4) Addressing the problem of infrastructure damage due to tree root damage and tree
root lifting, with strategies that can create partnership opportunities between the
City and its citizens. Aid in developing comprehensive, consistent and effective
tree and sidewalk/curb & gutter plans with staff.
5) Assisting the City in preventing costly mistakes in tree planting of the past so that new
problems are not inadvertently created that will need to be solved by future
leaders.
6) Overseeing coordination with government agencies and PG&E who have interests
and responsibilities in a Tree Canopy regarding its functionality and health.
7) Commenting on new development applications to ensure compliance with tree
ordinance and follow-up on post application for consistency with approval."
The primary focus of the seven items noted above is rooted in street trees located in the public
right of way. However, I must state that considering the study of street tree issues can open up
a whole number of related topics. These could include heritage trees, view protection and
SAN ItAFAEL CITY C -TNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Paee:
liability responsibilities (looping into an entirely separate, but related, challenge regarding
sidewalk maintenance and liability).
This staff report will outline options for the City Council to consider with respect to the proposed
Tree Advisory Council request. Staff has conducted extensive research and analysis regarding
street trees. We will offer the City Council some options with how to proceed, along with a
specific recommendation regarding the formation of an appointed body to recommend, via a
report, street tree policies and procedures.
The City staff and community share many common purposes and goals. In this specific
situation, we are in agreement that our collective trees are real community assets. The
environmental impacts of having significant tree plantings are obvious. There are also
economic and financial gains that come from having an emphasis placed on developing and
maintaining trees in our commercial and neighborhood areas. As you know, San Rafael has
been a Tree City for the last 26 years. We celebrated this event recently (April 16th) with our
annual Arbor Day planting which for 2008 occurred at Davidson Middle School.
liLG1W&-i R5
Over the past few months, staff has studied a variety of tree ordinances, policies and
committee/board options that are in place in other communities. In addition, Public Works, City
Attorney and City Manager's office staff met with the State of California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection to obtain the benefit of their expertise and experiences regarding street
trees. The results of our work have produced the following information and results:
1) Many communities up and down our State have various means of forming groups to
assist with tree policy setting and oversight. A few examples are included in the Table
of Tree Committees/Boards and included as Attachment "B" to this report.
2) Communities take varied approaches to handling the street tree programs. Some
structure separate entities that report directly to the City Council; others do not. What
most have in common is that professional staffs, including those who are certified
arborists, are an integral part to the work they are tasked to complete.
3) Updating a comprehensive tree ordinance is a complex task that is costly, time
consuming and requires extensive public process. Staff is not recommending a tree
ordinance be considered at this time as part of considering the Street Tree focus noted
by the community requestors. Tree ordinances are among the tools used by
communities striving to attain a healthy, vigorous, and well-managed community forest.
By themselves, however, tree ordinances cannot assure that the trees in and around our
communities will be improved or even maintained. Tree ordinances simply provide the
authorization and standards for management activities. Given the issues raised in the
City Attorney's memo, staff recommends a focus on Street Trees strategies and tasks
outlined later in this report. This direction would also align with General Plan 2020 goals
18-a through 18-c.
4) Agency tree board/commissions have a variety of responsibilities, ranging from appeals
functions for tree removal to street tree canopy policies and practices. The results of
our work show each community appoints a citizen based group for tree advisory
purposes in order to fulfill tree goals unique to each community's needs and desires.
SAN RAFAEL CITY C JNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: ,
Options:
Given the variety of programs, boards and committees, the City Council could be responsive to
neighbor requests regarding tree canopies in several ways. Options to address the street tree
goals defined in the General Plan and address many of the proposed Tree Advisory Council
suggested purposes could include:
1) Establish a new, separately appointed Board or Commission. (I would not suggest the
use of the term "Council" as only one such body exists on behalf of San Rafael
constituents). This newly appointed Board would require separate City Council action,
via a new ordinance, to define its charter, parameters, and organizational structure
(chairperson, terms, etc.). The Board would report to the City Council, and make
recommendations on items that required Council action (such as a tree ordinance).
2) The same model as #1 could be used, but instead report to a body other than the City
Council (e.g. an existing Board or Commission). The same structure, parameters and
charter definitions would be required. Clearly defined roles of how a new Board would
interact with an existing Board or Commission requires additional up front work. And
formal appointment of a new Committee or Board reporting to an existing body other
than the City Council would again require adoption (new Board) and amendment
(existing body) of ordinances by the City Council.
3) Without the need to formalize a board or commission, staff could work on meeting the
General Plan 2020 and goals and requests of the neighborhood using another
approach. By way of example, the Public Works Department partnered with Safe and
Healthy San Rafael to create an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy for public
parks and spaces. This work was done in collaboration with City staff, and produced an
IPM Policy that was adopted by the City Council. Staff has implemented the IPM policy
and produced reports and data to those interested in the subject.
4) Given the stated goals in our General Plan 2020, and the current number of standing
Boards and Commissions, the Council could appoint an advisory committee that serves
at the pleasure of one of our existing Boards or Commissions. When looking at our
current configuration and responsibilities of such bodies, the staff and I have determined
that the Parks and Recreation Commission would make the most sense. Specific tasks
and structure (which I will outline below) could achieve neighborhood and General Plan
2020 goals while improving our street tree maintenance efforts citywide.
Recommendation:
A Tree Advisory Committee (TAC) should be composed of the various interests and disciplines
that can offer expertise and perspectives that would be valuable to San Rafael. To this end,
offer a proposed structure for San Rafael's Tree Advisory Committee. Refer to Attachment "C"
for the purpose, qualifications and commitments of this proposed Committee. Having the
Committee report to our Parks and Recreation Commission is a prudent and reasoned choice,
and offers an opportunity for this Commission to be more actively involved in a segment of our
urban forestry needs beyond just the tree canopies contained in our community parks.
Approval of a Tree Advisory Committee is consistent with other advisory committees
established for various purposes in order to better serve our community. Examples of current
and recent advisory committees include:
SAN RAFAEL CITY C -TNCIL AGENDA REPORT /Page:
• Critical Facilities Committee (current)
• Critical Facilities Strategy Committee (former)
• Green Ribbon Committee
• General Plan Steering Committee
Establishing a Tree Advisory Committee would accomplish many of the citizen based desires
outlined in this report and help us move forward on our General Plan goals and Climate Change
Action Plan. However, the idea of having another body in place to specifically review street
trees as part of development applications is duplicative and unnecessary. Using an improved
set of guidelines and policies developed by a TAC allows our staff, Design Review Board (DRB)
and Planning Commission to continuing serving in their various roles related to development
review. Street Tree programs and guidelines, as developed or updated, can be formalized into
the development application, review and approval process. I would not suggest another
Committee or Board be added to this development approval effort. As always, the public can
comment on projects under DRB, Planning Commission or City Council consideration. And
their feedback and input can certainly focus on street trees for any particular application.
Efforts to support the work tasks of the TAC would be headed up by the Community Services
Department, with significant assistance from the Public Works Parks Division. As work tasks
are underway, limited involvement may be needed from staff in other departments. No
additional resources (financial or staffing) are proposed as part of establishing a Tree Advisory
Committee in San Rafael.
As the Council considers appointing this TAC, you should remain mindful that we currently have
less staff in the Parks Division than was in place four years ago. We are down two positions
due to budget cuts (back then). And we certainly have not reduced the level of work (acreage)
that our Parks Division is tasked with maintaining. Strategies, policies and programs produced
under the TAC purpose statements will need careful examination by staff for cost implications
and work load priority. This is a reminder that formation of committees needs to be focused
and purposeful, so they can avoid taking on a life of their own. Staff will work hard with TAC
members to accomplish the tasks noted, all the while balancing new ideas and programs
against our staffing and financial realities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None — no appropriations are required as part of establishing a Tree Advisory Committee.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Adopt Resolution.
OPTIONS:
1. Modify the Resolution and adopt per changes.
2. Reject Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
WACity Managers- WorkFile\Council Material\Staff Reports\08\tree committee report.doc
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
City Attorney's Office
ATTACHMENT "A"
DATE: May 15, 2008
TO: Mayor Boro and City Council
FROM: Gus Guinan, Assistant City Attorney
Lisa A. Goldfien, Contract Attorney
RE: Tree Ordinance Issues
Staff has been directed to look into the possible development of an ordinance regulating
trees in the City. We reviewed the tree ordinances of several other California cities, and concluded
that the main issues for consideration in drafting such an ordinance appear to be:
1. Whether the ordinance should address all trees on City property, or only those trees
within the City's rights-of-way, i.e. in street medians and park strips or unimproved
right-of-way adjacent to public streets, which we will refer to herein as "Street Trees."
2. Who should have supervisory control over the care and maintenance of trees?
3. Who should have the duty to perform required maintenance, removal?
4. Who does/should have the liability for injuries to the public from trees?
5. Should the ordinance address the issue of private view obstruction by trees?
6. Should the ordinance address the protection of certain significant trees on private
property?
7. How might we involve the public in the process of developing or enforcing a tree
ordinance?
With input from the City Manager and Art Gibney, Manager of Operations for the Public
Works Department, we have formulated some preliminary recommendations for addressing these
issues if a tree ordinance is considered for the City. We recommend as follows:
1. The City should limit any ordinance to the regulation of Street Trees within the City
right-of-way and not trees on other public lands.
2. The ordinance should provide that the City will have supervisory control over all Street
Trees and City staff should bear the responsibility for care and maintenance of Street
Trees.
The issue of how to determine the ownership or control of and maintenance
responsibilities for trees in the public right-of-way is one which needs to be clarified in
any proposed ordinance. The City's current policy and practice is to consider City -
owned trees to be only those trees situated within the City right-of-way which have been
either planted or historically maintained by the City. Trees considered to be owned by
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the City are m,..,rtained by the City, while all others are lu.c to private parties to
maintain. Likewise, damages to sidewalks from street trees owned by the City are
repaired by the City, while the City has historically placed liability on adjacent property
owners for the repair of such damages from street trees considered to be privately
owned. Giving this control to staff would therefore be a major change from the City's
historical practice.
In connection with this duty, the ordinance should indicate that Staff is to develop some
sort of Street Tree plan and polices with the following elements:
a. A list of trees permitted to be planted as Street Trees.
b. Planting and placement standards for Street Trees.
c. Maintenance guidelines for Street Trees.
d. Policies for removal and replacement of Street Trees.
e. Policies for prioritizing needed work as City budget permits.
Additionally, Staff should be directed to develop a reasonable (considering limited
resources of personnel and funds) inspection program for the entire City.
Any private party wishing to perform work on a Street Tree would be required to obtain
City approval and adhere to City standards for such work.
The City's assumption of maintenance responsibility for Street Trees might increase the
City's tort liability exposure.
3. Regarding view protection, some cities have a view protection ordinance affecting trees.
These ordinances provide an enforceable right to a remedy for certain view obstructions
cause by the growth of trees, a right which is not otherwise provided by law. Generally,
these ordinances, while not common, attempt to protect only primary views, and only
insofar as the complainant is seeking to restore a view he or she had when the property
was purchased. View protection issues usually involve a tree owner and one or two
neighboring properties, and can be extremely emotional for the parties. In the past,
some cities had created an administrative process for resolution of these disputes,
however, it appears that many cities are now doing as the City of Belvedere has done,
namely, providing a procedure for resolution of these disputes by the parties through
mediation, arbitration, and ultimately redress in the Superior Court, with no actual
involvement by the city. Staff believes it is better to leave these disputes to the affected
neighbors to settle on their own rather than placing the City in the middle of private
disputes. For similar reasons, Staff recommends that the ordinance should not regulate
the preservation of significant trees (so-called "heritage trees" ) on private property.
Cc: Ken Nordhoff, City Manager
Art Gibney, Manager of Operations
Andy Preston, Public Works Director
Robert F. Epstein, City Attorney
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CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
TABLE OF TREE BOARDS/COMMITTEES
ATTACHMENT "B"
Albany Tree Task Force The Albany Tree Task Force was Seven person citizen task
formed in early 2008 to create an force
integrated tree policy and to revise
our tree list.
Coronado Street Tree The Coronado Street Tree Seven person citizen
Committee Committee serves as an advisory committee
committee to the City Council and
to City Staff working to maintain,
improve, renew and protect urban
forest in public right-of-way, as well
as to share information with the
public, to enhance appreciation of
trees, promote proper tree care and
to encourage participation in the
development of Coronado's urban
forest.
Davis Tree Commission The Davis Tree Commission is to Seven Regular members,
act in an advisory capacity on tree One alternate member
related matters, including review
and approval of tree removal
requests.
Fairfax Tree Committee The Tree Committee reviews
One member of the Parks
applications for tree removals and
and Recreation
trimmings.
Commission, the
Planning Commission,
the Open Space
Committee and the Town
Council.
Napa Tree Advisory The Tree Advisory Commission
Consists of five (5)
Commission advises the Council on all issues
members who are
involving trees, including City
qualified by reason of
street trees and Significant Trees in
training or experience in
the community.
the fields of aboriculture,
horticulture, and urban
planning. Two (2) of the
five (5) members may be
County residents.
TABLE OF TREE BOi DS/COMMITTEES
Petaluma Tree Advisory The Tree Committee is charged
Committee with duties designated and
delegated by the City Council on
matters pertaining to the
management of tree resources
within the City. The Committee also
serves as a forum for the
coordination of tree -related
policies, and advises the City on
matters referred by City
departments, and other Council -
appointed hearing bodies.
Piedmont Park The Park Commission makes
Commission recommendations to the city
council about improvements to the
public parks and manages the
street tree improvement program of
the city.
Poway Tree Committee The Tree Committee shall make
recommendations to the City
Council on urban forestry
management policies and consider
appeals to tree removal and
encroachment permits.
Redwood Community Tree The City Council approved the
City Board (CTB). creation of a pilot Community Tree
(Pilot) Board (CTB). The initial
appointment will be for an 18 month
period. The main CTB assignment
will be to work with Public Works
Services (PWS) staff to develop the
24 recommendations of the
Community Tree Policy Task Force
into recommendations that Council
will adopt.
Sierra Tree Advisory
Madre . Commission
An advisory body that makes
recommendations to the City
Council, Director of Public Works,
City Manager, and Planning
Commission on matters involving
care & maintenance of City -owned
trees & trees on private
undeveloped property.
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7 Person Committee — 4
citizens; plus one
representative from
Planning Commission,
Parks & Recreation
Commission and the Site
Plan and Architectural
Review Committee
(SPARC)
Seven person citizen
commission
Committee is made up of
two staff members and
three citizens.
Five citizen appointees
Seven person citizen
committee
TABLE OF TREE BO.' -'.DS/COMMITTEES
St. Helena Tree Committee
Ventura
The Tree Committee serves as an
appeals board to decisions of the
Director of Public Works on tree
issues, acts in an advisory capacity
to the City Council, the Director of
Public Works, the Parks and
Recreation Commission, the
Planning Commission and to the
public.
Tree Advisory Assist in developing, reviewing,
Committee and amending the comprehensive
street tree management plan, street
tree inventory, and City Tree Master
Plan. Advises on technical
problems related to trees, including
management techniques
concerning all phases of urban
forest management.
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The Tree Committee
consists of five (5)
members and two (2)
alternates appointed by
the City Council
Five person citizen
committee
TT T ADVISORY COMMITTEF TAC)
PURIPOSE
ATTACHMENT "C"
Community residents and other stakeholders, working along side the San Rafael City Council,
have made trees a priority for the environmental and quality of life benefits they provide to our
community. As evidenced in General Plan 2020, several specific goals have been established
that relate to street tree management and care. The Committee's tasks should address all trees on
City property, or only those trees within the City's rights-of-way, i.e. in street medians and park
strips or unimproved right-of-way adjacent to public streets, which will be referred to herein as
"Street Trees."
Specifically, the tasks of the Tree Advisory Committee will be to:
1. Develop a comprehensive citywide Street Tree strategy, which could include appropriate
guidelines, policies and best practices. This task must include a fiscal analysis of all
recommendations.
2. Create a system for regular reporting, tracking, and communication with PG&E and the
community regarding Street Tree maintenance in relation to power lines.
3. Research and report on current opportunities for public private partnerships and public
education programs.
4. Examine alternatives (including budgetary impacts) for conducting a Street Tree
inventory and make recommendations on how to precede with said inventory.
5. Work with staff to implement the strategies indentified in the tasks above.
The Committee shall serve an advisory role in assisting the Parks and Recreation Commission
with creating or modifying procedures, policies, and standards that are necessary to protect the
City's existing and future street trees. The results of the Committee's efforts will be presented to
the City's Parks and Recreation Commission, and if necessary, to the City Council.
In order to keep the purpose of this Committee clearly defined, it is equally important to define
Committee limitations for the duration of the task work listed above. The Tree Advisory
Committee is not involved in:
Street Tree compliance (installation and maintenance) related to private development
applications and approvals. This responsibility is carried out by the Community
Development Department. In addition, formal Project review and approval, including
review of landscaping plans, shall remain with existing Boards or Commissions (such as
the Design Review Board or Planning Commission).
2. The tasks for the Tree Advisory Committee are limited to street trees in the City right of
way (including landscape medians in City streets), and with limited exceptions, the
Committee's scope of work does not include trees on private property, open space, parks
and public facilities.
3. Street tree work is not expected to address private property view corridors or heritage tree
ordinances and policies.
4. Revising City ordinances to require maintenance of private landscaping which
encroaches onto the City right-of-way and sidewalks. (General Plan Goal I -8d).
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COMPOSITION AND ..�INIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
All members of the TAC must be individuals with a strong interest and enthusiasm for urban
forestry and street tree issues. The TAC shall consist of seven (7) members. All members of the
Committee shall be residents of the City who have experience or knowledge of Street Trees.
Members appointed to the Tree Advisory Committee will help to ensure that San Rafael sustains
the City's Street Trees, balanced with an understanding that preservation of Street Trees can
sometimes be at odds with sidewalk maintenance and repair, and the perspectives of some
residents and business concerns. Specific details for committee formation include:
O The TAC members shall be appointed by the City Council. A subcommittee of the Parks
and Recreation Commission and the City Council will conduct a process to solicit
candidates for appointment.
O The seven (7) members shall include 4 residents; plus one representative from each of the
business community, Parks & Recreation Commission and Design Review Board.
O The TAC shall complete its initial work tasks no later than 18 months from the date of
initial appointment by the City Council. If additional time is needed, the TAC shall
provide an interim report and discuss the need for a time extension, subject to City
Council approval.
O A chair shall be appointed by the City Council.
O At least one of the members shall be an arboricultural or horticultural professional.
O Members shall live in San Rafael. Exceptions to local residency can be considered by the
appointing body, the City Council.
O Members shall attend meetings as scheduled on a regular frequency and as needed for
work goals assigned to the TAC.
TERMS AND TIME COMMITMENT
Appointees to the Committee will be for a period of eighteen (18) months. The Tree Advisory
Committee shall meet at least bi-monthly. Additional meetings may be scheduled in order to
address issues and fulfill the purposes of the Tree Advisory Committee. The Tree Advisory
Committee will sunset after the initial eighteen month appointment period, unless extended by
request of the Committee and approval by the City Council.
COMPLIANCE
The meetings shall comply with all provisions of the Brown Act. FPPC forms shall be required
of all TAC members, as well as compliance with the City's Ethics Policy and AB 1234. Review
of documents and materials may be required prior to scheduled meetings.
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