20240627-001: Draft Minutes from March 28 2024 — original pdf

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1. 2. 3. 4. URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, March 28, 2024 The Urban Forestry Committee convened in a REGULAR meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Brimer called the Urban Forestry Committee Meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Richard Brimer Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Mariana Krueger, Melinda Schiera Commissioners Absent: Colin Nickells PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Committee Meeting of October 12, 2023 The minutes from the regular meeting on October 12th, 2023 were approved on Commissioner Schiera’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second on a 3–0 vote. Commissioner Nickells was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing heritage tree administrative variance procedures – Jim Dymkowski, Division Manager, Community Tree Preservation, Development Services Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Staff briefing on overall tree preservation numbers – Jim Dymkowski, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Staff update on drafted tree preservation incentives in HOME code amendments – Jim Dymkowski, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Emily King, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Speakers:  Bobby Levenski, Save our Springs Alliance (speaking on items 4 and 5) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Discuss ghost trees and how they are addressed in the current heritage tree ordinance– Richard Brimer Speakers: Bobby Levenski, Save our Springs Alliance Item conducted as posted. No action was taken. 6. Discuss Committee goals for the upcoming year – Mariana Krueger Speakers: Commissioner Krueger, on increasing food forests and native planting corridors Commissioner Schiera, on the growth of tree canopy and increasing tree review after planting Commissioner Brimer, on actionable items to protect tree canopy and incentives on compliance with existing regulations Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Schiera requested to meet to determine high-level priorities and action items for the committee. Commissioner Schiera requested making a recommendation to Council on increasing the inspections of trees after plantings Commissioner Krueger requested an agenda item to create package of recommendations to support food forests and community gardens at the Environmental Commission. Chair Brimer adjourned the meeting at 12 p.m. without objection.