HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 08/05/1991i 0
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
CULTURAL,; LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES: Special Meeting, August 5, 1991
President Bob McCluskey called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. K-Lynn Cameron
was not able to attend tonight's meeting.
Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda.
Citizen Participation: No citizen participation.
Public Hearing to Consider A Citizen's Appeal for Removal of a Diseased Elm Tree
at 610 West Mountain Avenue
Assistant City Attorney Marty Heffernan reviewed the City's Ordinance Sections
27-59 through 64 relating to a diseased tree, the Citizen's rights to appeal, and
the Board's role in tonight's meeting is to hear the appeal of the City's notice
to remove a diseased American Elm tree located at 610 West Mountain Avenue, owned
by Mr. Geary Baese.
City Forester Tim Buchanan began the hearing by giving a biological background
of the diseased American Elm tree located at 610 West Mountain Avenue. Assistant
City Forester Ralph Zentz showed slides of the property and identified the tree.
Samples from the tree were sent to Colorado State Forest Service's lab for
testing. The reports verified the tree has Dutch Elm Disease. A condemnation
notice was sent certified mail to Mr. Baese on July 12. Mr. Baese received his
notice on July 24 and then had 14 days to remove the tree or appeal to the City
of Fort Collins Cultural, Library, and Recreational Services Director Michael
Powers. Mr. Baese appealed the notice to the City on July 29, 1991. Mr. Powers
then scheduled a special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board to hear this
appeal.
Slides were presented of the diseased tree and two other American Elms on the
adjacent City right-of-way. Extensive visual symptoms of Dutch Elm disease were
present in the landowner's tree. The two other Elms did not show any Dutch Elm
disease symptoms.
Mr. Geary Baese presented his case to the Board. He stated that he doesn't
question that the tree should be removed and gives authorization to the City
Forestry Division to contract to have the tree removed. His concern is that when
his other diseased American Elm tree was removed in 1988, by a private tree
removal service, Mr. Baese feels he was not compensated enough by the tree
service's insurance for his property damage. According to Mr. Baese, there was
damage to his and his neighbor's property. This unfortunate experience makes Mr.
Baese apprehensive about the removal of the next tree. City Forester Tim
Buchanan assured Mr. Baese that he would oversee the project and make sure the
citizen is completely satisfied with the work before the City approves payment
to the contractor.
Staff recommended to the Board that the City Forester's notification of removal
of the diseased tree at 610 West Mountain Avenue within the next 14 days be
upheld by the Board. On a motion by Mary Ness, seconded by John Barnett, the
Board voted 7-0-1 (Elery Wilmarth abstained because of his concern of potential
conflict of interest as he is a citizen who has elm trees on his property) to
uphold the City Forester's recommendation to remove the diseased American Elm
tree at 610 West Mountain Avenue.
Karen Schubert stated that the Board is concerned about the damages done to Mr.
Baese's property when the City contracted to have his tree removed in 1988, and
therefore would like a report after this tree is removed.
Other Business
- Jerry P. Brown reminded the Board that the City Council will be voting on
renovation of the Community Pool at their meeting of August 6 at 6:30 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
tfully/submitted,
Rael, Admini,str-Rive Aide II
Meeting Attendance
Board Members Staff Guests
Bob McCluskey
Bob Alexander
Marilyn Barnes
John Barnett
Mary Ness
Karen Schubert
Roger Tarum
Elery Wilmarth
Jerry P. Brown
Tim Buchanan
Ralph Zentz
Larue Wentz
Marty Heffernan
Jackie Rael
Geary Baese
Mike Shoemaker, Colorado
State Forest Service