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Rules Committee appoints six to Urban Forestry Council, continues one seat for outreach and approves residency waiver
Summary
The Rules Committee approved appointments to six Urban Forestry Council seats, accepted a residency waiver for Meg Lohman, and continued one seat to allow additional outreach on a residency candidate after public concern was raised about diversity and a particular applicant.
On Feb. 22, 2017 the Rules Committee considered eight applicants for seven Urban Forestry Council seats (terms to 11/18/2018). Applicants described professional and volunteer backgrounds in arboriculture, urban forestry and community tree stewardship.
The committee heard testimony from several applicants, including Andrew Sullivan (landscape architect; long service on the council), Michael Sullivan (Friends of the Urban Forest volunteer and author), Dan Flanagan (council chair), Meg Lohman (scientist), Philip Pierce and others. Public comment included support for most candidates but raised concerns about Colby Peterson’s record and residency; one public commenter urged holding that seat open rather than appointing him.
Supervisors discussed the council’s demographic and geographic diversity and whether a residency waiver was appropriate. The committee accepted a residency waiver for Meg Lohman (a scientist whose technical expertise was cited as valuable) and agreed to continue one contested seat (seat 2) to permit additional outreach and consideration of diversity. The committee approved appointments of the remaining six candidates and sent the recommendations to the full board with a positive recommendation.
Next steps: clerk will place the affirmed appointments and continued-item notation on the Board of Supervisors agenda.
