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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-2017 PBR Minutes CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting February 7, 2016 – 6:00 PM I. CALL MEETING OF THE PARKS, BEACHES & RECREATION COMMISSION TO ORDER – 6pm II. ROLL CALL Present: Marie Marston, Chair Laird Hayes, Vice Chair Tom Anderson Ron Cole Roy Englebrecht Dave Granoff Walt Howald Staff: Laura Detweiler, Recreation & Senior Services Director Mike Pisani, Municipal Operations Director Dan Sereno, Landscape Manager Teri Craig, Administrative Support Specialist Marie Lindeman, Administrative Support Specialist III. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR None.   V. CONSENT CALENDAR   A. Minutes of the December 6, 2016 PB&R Commission meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve and order filed. B. Item pulled by Director Pisani C. Recreation & Senior Services Activity Report Receive/file Activity Report of past and upcoming projects and events. Chair Marston opened the public comments on Consent Calendar items V-A and V-C; hearing none the public comments for Consent Calendar was closed. Motion by Commissioner Hayes; second by Commissioner Howald, to accept Consent Calendar Items V-A and V-C. Motion carried by unanimous vote. B. Parks, Trees, and Beaches Maintenance Divisions Activities Report Manager Sereno provided information on the January 20th windstorm. He noted that approximately 90 city trees and 40 private trees fell and needed to be cleared. The City, its contractors, and the Police and Fire Departments responded to many calls. He stated that the City fared better than its neighbors because of its mature urban forest and pruning schedule, but a few special trees Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 2 were lost and that no injuries were reported. The City will work with citizens to get stumps removed and trees replaced. Commissioner Howald asked about the City’s insurance coverage regarding the loss of trees. Director Pisani stated the City would not be covered by insurance, but there are State preliminary disaster relief teams coming to assess the damage. He stated that Citywide the approximate damage estimate is between $130,000 to $140,000. He stated that the City can only be reimbursed for debris clearance and not tree replacement. Commissioner Howald asked if the cost estimates included the extra crews that were brought in. Manager Sereno said that the State will only reimburse overtime and equipment costs. Commissioner Hayes asked about the table that showed number of trees trimmed, removed, and planted. He noted the net loss of 47 trees and if they would all be replaced. Manager Sereno said many of those 47 trees were removed because they were dead, diseased, or dying. The City is in the process of replacing most of them and they try to replace one for one. Commissioner Hayes also inquired about the sand removal at Marina Park. Director Pisani said that staff was requesting the construction of a small seat wall to keep the sand on the beach. Chair Marston opened the public comments. Jim Mosher asked if the City had learned anything that would help with its risk assessment for potentially failing trees. Chair Marston closed the public comments. Motion by Commissioner Howald; second by Commissioner Cole, to receive the Municipal Operations Department Activity report of past and upcoming projects and events. Motion carried by unanimous vote. VI. CURRENT BUSINESS A. Reforestation – 117½ 54th Street Consider the request for reforestation of one City Tipuana tipu tree located at 117 ½ 54th Street by Dan Parke at 5405 River Avenue (located across the street). Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 3 Manager Sereno presented information on the reforestation including items not included with the report. He noted that staff recommends reforestation with Purple- leaf Plum trees, which already exist onsite. Manager Sereno showed the Commission several photographs and maps of the site and the pictures of the replacement tree. He stated that 24 people or 60% were in favor of removing the tree. Commissioner Englebrecht noted that if they were removing the tree because of aesthetics then it was not justified in removing it and worried that it would set a precedent. Manager Sereno said that a justification for reforestation is blue water impact and it is discussed in City Council Policy G-3. He went on to say that only one individual was opposed to the removal of the tree. Commissioner Englebrecht said that the blue water impact was not enough for him to vote to remove the tree. Commissioner Anderson confirmed that the resident lived on the North side of River. He also asked if the tree always had leaves or if it bloomed. Manager Sereno said that the tree is classified as semi-deciduous and that if it gets cold enough the tree will lose all of its leaves. The replacement Purple-leafed Plum tree is also deciduous. Commissioner Anderson suggested the Plum tree might block the view as much as the current tree. Manager Sereno disagreed noting that the Plum tree would top out at 15 to 20 feet high. Commissioner Howald asked if trimming could save the tree. Manager Sereno said the tree had been in place for three to four years and is trimmed every two years and that this past year was trimmed twice last year without improvement acceptable to Mr. Parke. Chair Marston asked if the bulb moved up as the tree grew. Manager Sereno explained that as it was a street tree it had to be 8 to 9 feet above the sidewalk and 11 feet above the street. It would continue to move up and would continue to block his blue water view. Commissioner Hayes asked if there were other Tipu trees on the block. Manager Sereno replied that there was a mixture of Tipu trees, Queen Palms, and Purple Leaf Plums. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 4 Commissioner Hayes asked if the City should remove all of the other Tipu trees and replace them with Purple-leafed Plum trees. Manager Sereno stated that he would not recommend that as Mr. Parke’s request was the only homeowner raising the blue water complaint. Commissioner Cole thought the replacement tree would also block the view and inquired about other options. Manager Sereno indicated the Queen Palm was also discussed, but staff felt the Plum tree would be less obtrusive in the long run. Commissioner Granoff requested Manager Sereno discuss the public support further. Manager Sereno reported there was one opposition letter that came in late, but out of the 40 property owners notified 24 agreed with the removal which meets the 60% petition threshold. Chair Marston opened the public comments. Dan Parke thanked the Commission and summarized the letter he sent to the Commission. He explained that he spent 12 weekends gathering signatures for his request. He also sent letters to homeowners who live out of state in order to get their signatures. There was only one person that opposed it and her view is not affected. Mr. Parke explained that the tree’s placement was also problematic. Jim Mosher indicated that he had submitted written comments, but thought the Commission should be aware of Council Policy G-3 before making this decision noting that the policy states that City trees should not obstruct private views. Chair Marston closed the public comments. Commissioner Englebrecht agreed about Policy G-3. He confirmed with staff that it was a City tree that was installed about three years prior and noted that he would be changing his vote. Manager Sereno explained it was a Public Works project and tree locations were part of the landscape architect’s purview. The community was noticed, but Manager Sereno could not speak to Mr. Parke specifically. Commissioner Englebrecht stated he might change his vote due to Policy G-3. Commissioner Anderson confirmed the tree was only three years old and that the homeowner would pay for the standard 36-inch box tree. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 5 Manager Sereno said that the trees were planted three years ago, but the tree is 10 years old. The homeowner will pay for removal and replacement, which will be around $1,000. Commissioner Anderson stated that he also would support the request in light of the City G-3 policy. Commissioner Cole requested that City staff work with homeowner regarding the specific location of the replacement tree. Commissioner Granoff asked if the existing tree could be relocated and voiced support for working with the homeowner on the new tree’s placement. Manager Sereno explained it was more expensive to relocate a broad leafed tree and that there was only a 50% survival rate. He noted that he was confident that the City could work with Mr. Parke and the homeowner opposed to the reforestation on the placement of the Plum tree. Motion by Commissioner Anderson; second by Vice Chair Hayes to approve request for reforestation by Dan Parke of a City Tipuana tipu tree and replace it with a Purple-leafed Plum tree; and to work with homeowner regarding specific location of the replacement tree. Motion carried by unanimous vote. VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS / FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Director Detweiler directed the Commission’s attention to the Activity Report and the use of the Community Room at the Civic Center and Marina Park. The facilities are really gaining in popularity and have received favorable feedback from users. Staff is thrilled with the success in providing these community gathering places. The Girl Scouts are progressing on their facility and that will increase activity as well at Marina Park. There was a Region V conference in Laguna Hills and Commissioner Hayes was the keynote speaker. Three hundred and fifty recreation professionals attended. She thanked Commissioner Hayes for his presentation. Director Detweiler said the Sunset View Ad Hoc Committee would begin their work in the spring with community outreach. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Jim Mosher stated that he attended the town hall meeting on Sunset View Park and that the proposal includes two possible pedestrian bridges, one on Superior and one on Coast Highway. The Commission will have a meeting on the project in the future. Victor Leipzig PhD, President of Sea and Sage Audubon Society, provided a PowerPoint presentation titled Beach-dependent Birds of Orange County. The Audubon Society is opposed to a dog beach out the mouth of the Santa Ana River. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 6 Darrell Ferguson, Vice-Chair of the Surfrider Foundation Newport Beach Chapter, explained that they do beach cleanups on the first Saturday of each month. He noted that currently the cleanups are happening at Prospect and his purpose is to create awareness especially after the recent storms. He asked that the City to work with the county on the plant material cleanup and cleanup of items from homeless people who live in the area. Mr. Ferguson also offered his assistance to the Commission and City. IX. ADJOURNMENT - 7:15 p.m. Submitted by: ________ Teri Craig, Admin Assistant Approved by: _____ Marie Marston Teri Craig