Name: Petaluma Tree Advisory Committee meeting, Aug 21, 2024
Start: 2024-08-21
Location: City of Petaluma

Tree Advisory Committee

Wed, August 21, 2024

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Agenda items

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Discussion summary

Transcript

Meeting summaryAI-generated

Tree Advisory Committee — August 21, 2024

This was a regular meeting of Petaluma's Tree Advisory Committee, held at City Hall. Six of seven members were present; Eberle Ewing was absent. The session covered public comment, minutes approval, a continued discussion of the draft Tree Preservation Ordinance, and the election of new officers.

General Public Comment

Two members of the public, Judith Rice-Jones and Catherine Hotz, offered comments during the general public comment period. The minutes do not detail the substance of their remarks.

Approval of Minutes — June 19, 2024

The minutes from the June 19, 2024 meeting were approved without discussion.

Tree Preservation Ordinance — Draft Review and Feedback

Staff presenter Heather Hines shared an updated presentation on the draft Tree Preservation Ordinance (Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17), continuing work from prior committee sessions. The ordinance, once adopted, will govern how trees are protected, removed, and replaced within the city. Hines and colleague Ben Anderson fielded questions and comments from all six members present, though the minutes do not capture the specific points raised or any particular direction given to staff.

Charles Little, representing ReLeaf Petaluma — a local tree advocacy organization — offered public comment during the hearing. The substance of his remarks is not detailed in the minutes.

This review is intended to refine the draft before it moves forward to formal adoption hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. No binding vote was taken; the committee's role here is advisory.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair

The committee elected new leadership for the coming term. Committee Member McErlane nominated Darren Racusen for Chair; Racusen accepted. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Bertuccelli and passed unanimously.

Vote (Chair): McErlane moved, Bertuccelli seconded — 6-0

Committee Member Obaid then nominated Bill Cover for Vice Chair; Cover accepted. The motion was seconded by Racusen and also passed unanimously.

Vote (Vice Chair): Obaid moved, Racusen seconded — 6-0

No committee or staff comments were offered before adjournment at 5:02 p.m.

Key Takeaways

The Tree Preservation Ordinance draft continues to be refined through committee feedback; it will eventually proceed to the Planning Commission and City Council for formal adoption.

ReLeaf Petaluma participated in the public hearing, signaling ongoing community interest in the ordinance's final form — though the specifics of their comments were not captured in the minutes.

Darren Racusen was elected Chair and Bill Cover was elected Vice Chair, both unanimously (6-0).

The minutes are sparse on the substance of the ordinance discussion; residents seeking detail on what changes were reviewed should consult the staff presentation slides or audio recording.

AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.

Agenda items (4)

Procedural (2)

1ProceduralPublic Comment – Judith RiceJones APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Judith Rice-Jones will speak during public comment, followed by the council approving the minutes from a previous meeting.

2ProceduralApproval of Minutes for the meeting of June 19, 2024

The council will vote to approve the official written record of what happened at the June 19, 2024 meeting.

Public Hearing

3Public HearingReceive a Presentation, Discuss, and Provide Feedback on updated Draft of Tree Preservation Ordinance (Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17) to inform subsequent adoption hearings with Planning Commission and City Council. Public Comment – ReLeaf Petaluma

The city will present an updated draft of the Tree Preservation Ordinance, which sets rules for protecting trees in Petaluma, and ask for feedback before it goes to the Planning Commission and City Council for final approval. ReLeaf Petaluma will have a chance to comment during public comment.

4Public HearingElection of Chair and Vice Chair COMMITTEE COMMENT STAFF COMMENT

The council will elect a new Chair and Vice Chair for a committee.

Additional votes recorded in minutes

Elect Committee Member Racusen as Chair

aye 6 · absent 1

Bill Coveraye

Darren Racusenaye

Eberle Ewingabsent

Howard Formbyaye

Marianne Bertuccelliaye

Roger McErlaneaye

Taryn Obaidaye

Elect Committee Member Cover as Vice Chair

aye 6 · absent 1

Bill Coveraye

Darren Racusenaye

Eberle Ewingabsent

Howard Formbyaye

Marianne Bertuccelliaye

Roger McErlaneaye

Taryn Obaidaye

Verbatim transcript available

2 transcript segments indexed

CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA REGULAR MEETING OF THE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE City Hall Council Chamber 11 English Street Petaluma, CA 94952 MINUTES Wednesday, August 21, 2024 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PRESENT: Bill Cover, Howard Formby, Taryn Obaid, Darren Racusen, Roger McErlane, Marianne Bertuccelli ABSENT: Eberle Ewing GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT During General Public Comment, the public is invited to make comments on items of public interest that are within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction and that are not listed on the current agenda. Public comments are limited up to three minutes per person. Depending on the number of persons wishing to address the Council, time will be allocated in equal shares totaling no more than twenty minutes, subject to the Council’s discretion (Cal. Gov’t. Code §54954.3(a), Petaluma City Council Rules, Policies and Procedures, III). 1 Public Comment Judith Rice-Jones Catherine Hotz APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. Approval of Minutes for the meeting of June 19, 2024 The minutes were deemed approved. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 3. Receive a Presentation, Discuss, and Provide Feedback on updated Draft of Tree Preservation Ordinance (Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17) to inform subsequent adoption hearings with Planning

Commission and City Council. Heather Hines shared her presentation/slides to continue the discussion of the Tree Preservation Ordinance and get additional feedback. Heather and Ben Anderson addressed questions and comments from all Committee members present. Public Comment Opened Charles Little with ReLeaf Public Comment Closed 4. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Nominations Motion: Committee Member McErlane nominated Committee Member Racusen and Committee Member Racusen accepted. A motion was placed to elect Committee Member Racusen for Chair. Motion: Committee Member McErlane Second: Committee Member Bertuccelli Vote: 6-0 Committee Member Obaid nominated Committee Member Cover for Vice Chair and Committee Member Cover accepted. A motion was placed to elect Committee Member Cover for Vice Chair. Motion: Committee Member Obaid Second: Committee Member Racusen Vote: 6-0 COMMITTEE COMMENT None STAFF COMMENT None ADJOURNMENT 5:02p.m.