Name: Petaluma Recreation, Music & Parks Commission meeting, Jan 17, 2024
Start: 2024-01-17
Location: City of Petaluma

Recreation, Music & Parks Commission

Wed, January 17, 2024

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Meeting summaryAI-generated

Tree Advisory Committee — January 17, 2024

This was a regular meeting of the Tree Advisory Committee (not the Recreation, Music & Parks Commission as listed in the agenda header — the source document is the Tree Advisory Committee minutes). All seven members were present at the start. The meeting concluded at 5:15 PM.

General Public Comment

Wendy Jacobs, representing ReLeaf, addressed the committee during general public comment on a matter not listed on the agenda. No further detail about her remarks is captured in the minutes.

Draft Update to Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17 (Tree Preservation)

Senior Planner Heather Hines, joined by Ben Anderson, presented a draft update to Chapter 17 of the City's Implementing Zoning Ordinance, which governs tree preservation. This is a substantive policy update that would affect how trees are protected, removed, and replaced across the city.

Written public comments were submitted by Charles Little, Bill Rinehart, and Margaret Henderson prior to and after the agenda was posted. All seven committee members asked questions and shared individual comments and concerns, though the minutes do not detail the substance of those exchanges. During the public comment period, Charles Little and Wendy Jacobs (ReLeaf) also spoke in person.

Partway through the meeting, Chair Howard Formby had to leave early. The committee voted to continue the meeting under Vice Chair Roger McErlane's leadership.

Vote to continue under Vice Chair McErlane: Moved by McErlane, seconded by Racusen. Passed 7-0.

No formal action was taken on the Chapter 17 update itself — the item was for discussion and feedback only.

Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality

A presentation on the City of Petaluma's Draft Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality was scheduled, but the committee ran short on time. Members voted to defer the item to the next meeting rather than give it inadequate attention.

Vote to continue to next meeting: Moved by Racusen, seconded by Cover. Passed 6-0 (Chair Formby no longer present).

Approval of Minutes — November 15, 2023

The minutes from the November 15, 2023 meeting were approved without discussion.

Vote: Moved by Racusen, seconded by Cover. Passed 6-0 (Chair Formby not present).

Key Takeaways

This was a Tree Advisory Committee meeting, not a Recreation, Music & Parks Commission meeting — the agenda header in the source material appears to have been mislabeled.

The committee received and discussed a draft update to the City's Tree Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 17), with public participation from community members including ReLeaf; no vote was taken on the update itself, as it was a feedback session.

The Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality presentation was deferred to a future meeting due to time constraints.

The minutes offer limited detail on the substance of committee members' questions and concerns regarding Chapter 17 — residents seeking more depth should review the meeting recording or staff report.

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

Agenda items (3)

General Business

1General BusinessPark2Park Crosstown Bikeway Initiative: Receive a presentation by Safe Street Petaluma and provide input regarding an initiative centered on improving citywide park connections and a c c e s s f o r b i c y c l e a n d p e d e s t r i a n t r a f f i c . https://www.safestreetspetaluma.org/home/programs/park2park‐bikeway. Bruce Hagen, Kelly Bond, Pete Gang, with Safe Streets Petaluma.

Procedural (1)

2ProceduralApproval of Minutes for the meeting of November 15, 2023.

Public Hearing

3Public HearingBlueprint for Carbon Neutrality: Receive a report and high level overview of the City of Petaluma's Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality and consider providing input and feedback to staff on any and all elements of the draft report report for consideration, prior to final adoption. Heather Gurewitz, Senior Planner, Christina Paul, Principal Planner.

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, January 17, 2024 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL PRESENT: Bill Cover, Eberle Ewing, Howard Formby, Taryn Obaid, Darren Racusen, Roger McErlane, Marianne Bertuccelli ABSENT: None 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 – Wendy Jacobs/ReLeaf PRESENTATIONS 2. Receive a Presentation, Discuss, and Provide Feedback on Components of the Draft Update to Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17 (Tree Preservation) Heather Hines presented the Draft Update to Implementing Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17 (Tree Preservation) with Ben Anderson in attendance. Public comments received prior to posting agenda Public comments received after posting agenda Charles Little Bill Rinehart Margaret Henderson

Committee members asked questions of staff and shared comments/concerns. Committee Member Ewing Committee Member Racusen Committee Member Obaid Committee Member McErlane Committee Member Cover Committee Member Bertuccelli Public Comment Opened Charles Little Wendy Jacobs Public Comment Closed Chair Formby had to leave the meeting early; the committee motioned to continue meeting with Vice Chair McErlane. Motion: McErlane Second: Racusen Vote: 7-0 3. Receive Presentation and Discuss the Draft City of Petaluma Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality to the Climate Action Commission (CAC) for consideration. Motion to move this agenda item to the next meeting/new meeting date due to time restraint. Motion: Racusen Second: Cover Vote: 6-0 (Chair Formby not present) APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4. Approval of Minutes for the meeting of November 15, 2023 Motion: Racusen Second: Cover Vote: 6-0 (Chair Formby not present) PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION COMMITTEE COMMENT STAFF COMMENT ADJOURNMENT – 5:15PM