Local tribe members speak as mayor reads proclamation for National Native American Heritage Month
Amid a few other items of business, the Buellton City Council took the first step in establishing a more thorough ordinance on the planting and care of trees on public property, at its Thursday, Nov. 13, regular meeting.
The meeting, the City Council’s only one for the month of November, included Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis attending remotely from home because of what was termed a “contagious illness.”
The meeting was also marked by a proclamation from the council recognizing National Native American Heritage Month. In the Council Chambers audience were several members of the Valley’s Chumash community. Some also spoke to council, among them Chris Stephenson, who spokes of the tribe’s work with the Buellton Rotary to put on a wellness event in town.
“We were able to share our cultural healing ideas with the public,” he said. “They were given to us to share. You guys have given us that opportunity to do so. We thank you.”
Mayor David Silva then read the proclamation, which culminated with “Today, as we honor National Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the enduring spirit, wisdom, and contributions of Native peoples — past, present, and future.”
The council moved Item 8, business item Deep Dive: Tree Policies, Procedures, and City Ordinance Information up in the agenda because of its relevance to Item 6, the tree planting ordinance. City Manager Scott Wolfe said he moved it up because he wanted the council to discuss existing policy on the planting of trees on public property. Planning Director Andrea Keefer, who presented the report, said it was to “let council know policy, and see if you want to change anything.”
The crux of the questions and discussion was that the current policy on trees was rather broad and seemed to be based mainly on guidelines rather than requirements. Councilmember Carla Mead noted that there was a list of acceptable trees to be planted in the city, and that she didn’t realize the list existed. Councilmember Hudson Hornick referred to a guideline that a tree be planted at least 50 feet from a structure and believed that was too long. “Fifty feet is a couple doors down in my neighborhood,” he said.
Lewis said she was fine with guidelines in the policy, as long as they were considered suggestions. “I’m against anything leaning toward requirement,” she said. “I’d lean away from telling people what to do.”
Silva, however, express a caveat toward that thinking. “I don’t like the idea of ‘should,’ when many think it means ‘I don’t have to.’”
From there, council went to Item 6, which covered not only the planting and care of trees, but the removal of trees on private property that invade and can possibly damage public property.
Wolfe said a new tree ordinance is part of Buellton’s effort to get designation as a Tree City USA, a program that sets the framework necessary for communities to manage and grow their public trees.
“We have a template from National Arbor Day Foundation for our ordinance,” he said. “To get a Tree City USA designation, the city must have tree ordinance; our code doesn’t have that.”
Wolfe also said that a tree and landscape committee is being formed with the Planning Commission toward getting that designation.
During discussion, Hornick asked whether the removal of trees on private property could have a conflict of jurisdiction between the planning and public works director. Wolfe said there would be no conflict, as with a tree being on private property, it would be the responsibility of the public works director.
Silva said in the case of removal, a requirement that the tree be replaced should be included. Wolfe said that was not on the current proposed ordinance, but it could be added by council at the second reading.
Ultimately, Lewis moved to approve the ordinance, with Hornick seconding, and the item passed 5-0. The item was a first reading of the ordinance, which means it will be back before council in the next meeting to be officially approved.
In other business:
The council OK’d consultant contracts for Sargent Town Planning, Atlas Planning Solutions, and Circlepoint for further research into the city’s General Plan update. Circlepoint’s contract was for a community survey on uses for the Hundred Hills school site by the library for $5,855, a cost that did not sit well with Councilmember John Sanchez.
“We’re pending money on something that we don’t know what will happen in five years,” Sanchez said. “It’s a changing thing by the day. And we’re spending money for consultants on this?”
Wolfe replied that the survey was being done to see what the public wanted to do with the land. In the approval of the Hundred Hills School site earlier this year, many residents expressed their objections to them not being informed of details of the use of the former Wilhelmsen property.
“Not keen on throwing away money,” Hornick answered. “However, the public feels they are not involved of the process, and we need to let them know they’re being informed, and a part of this process.”
Ultimately, after Silva moved to approve the item, and Hornick seconded, the item passes 4-1 with Sanchez dissenting.
The next Buellton City Council meeting will be on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m.
