Community Tree Council

1 Community Tree Council (CTC) Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: December 7th, 2020 Location: ACC Cisco Webex online meeting, You Tube Streaming Link: https://youtu.be/xiwwGVyQi_k In Attendance - Members: Rodney Walters, Lea Clark, Shawn Doonan, Phil Hale, Edith Jackson, Nina Wurzburger, Pam Knox, Jessie McClellan Mary Attaway, Joe Perloff, Mary Attaway (A Quorum Was Present) Staff, Guests, and Ex-Officio Members: Stacee Farrell (KACCB Executive Director), Seth Hawkings (Georgia Forestry Commission Community Forester), Andrew Saunders (Central Services Director), Absent: Joseph Bates, Mary Songster, Victoria Goff, Russell Edwards Call to Order and Welcome: ● Introductions/Welcome Shawn’s Doonan 4:00 - 4:05 Housekeeping (Secretary) Rodney Walters 4:05 - 4:10 ● Roll Call Sign in (3 minutes): Attending members written on attendance list ● (Action Item: Vote to approve the November 9th CTC meeting minutes and the November 16th CTC Committee Meetings minutes ), (3 minutes): After the November CTC meeting minutes and the November CTC Committees Meetings minutes were distributed to the CTC members for review, the CTC voted unanimously to approve the November 9th CTC meeting minutes and the November 16th CTC Committee Meetings minutes. ● (Discussion and Action Item - Selection of 2021 CTC officers: After a discussion the CTC voted unanimously to Joe Perloff as President, Mary Attaway as President elect, and Pam Knox as Treasurer and Rodney as Secretary during 2021. ● (Discussion and Action Item – Tree Steward Award: After a discussion was held, a motion was made, seconded, and passed by unanimous vote to have two separate categories for the Tree Steward Award including an Individual Tree Steward Award and an Organization’s Tree Steward Award. - Nominations will be sent to Lea - A Tree that Owns Itself print will be given as the award ● Information Treasurer’s Report (Information – 5 minutes) Pam Knox 4:10 – 4:15 ● The treasurers report was submitted and is attached at the end of this document. ● Should donors be listed publically?  Thank you letters say they will be acknowledged on website (need request is they whish to remain anonymous)  Website should specify Public Acknowledgement Parameters  Thank you gifts for donations over $250.00 (Pam to send Prints of Tree that Owns Iteself)  2 CTC Committee Reports (Information and Discussion) Shawn Doonan 4:15 – 4:30 ● CTC Business  Shawn to prepare Annual CTC Report (to be presented for approval the CTC on January 11, 2021)  Please help the CTC President by making sure the group and members lists are up to date  Member nominations – second January agenda item (will need vote to renew memberships by nominating Joe Perloff, Jessica McClellan, and Victoria Goff for a second term and will need to submit 3 CTC nominees for a total of 6 nominees to be submitted to the Mayor and Commission for CTC membership). - Annual Report (CTC Accomplishments of 2020 – Shawn) – Rodney to send Shawn the 2020 passed motions and the format of a prior report. - MLK Day (suggestion is to revisit sites where the CTC has previously planted trees and perform tree maintenance (pruning and mulching). - There is approval of this general plan, because it will help to emphasize the importance of performing tree maintenance and will help improve the longevity, health, and aesthetics of the trees the CTC has planted. - Broad Acres (redbuds need pruned, trees need mulch) - Rock Springs needs some trees replanted (Talk with Danny-Athens Housing Authority) - Seth has 18 gallon trees (if wanted) that could replace trees that died - Arbor Day (may do a traditional tree planting ceremony on Firefly Trail, socially distanced and outdoors - or- may consider alternatives such as art or poetry contests or an online educational program) - Georgia Forestry Commission may wave 2021 Arbor Day Requirements due to COVID-19 - Have not heard from State Farm Grant application, so need to move forward with plans Firefly Train Planting (Good Plan!) - Does not need to be a public event (CTC Members only – Read the Arbor Day Proclamation) - Mulching of other Firefly trees is a possibility  Educational Short – Seth Hawkins – Right Tree, Right Place, for the Right Objective (purpose) - Information may be viewed at: GeorgiaTrees.org > Ask the Arborist > Fact Sheets -or- Resources (Urban and Community Forestry) ● CTC Interview Work Group Meeting {Shawn (leader), Phil, Pam, Marc, Mary Attaway}-5 min. (4:35) Discussion:  Interviewed Holly Campbell (who is a great candidate)  Will be interviewing 3 more applicants ● CTC Trees for Tomorrow Work Group {Phil Hale (leader), Mary Attaway, Nina, Joe, Rodney} – 5 min (4:40)  The site at Old Winterville Rd and Little Oak St largely has unknown development that will occure in that vicinity, so the best option currently is to plant 7 trees in the median between the Firefly Trail and Little Oak Street. - Moons Creek has Biloxi Crepe Myrtles for $250.00 each (14 feet tall) - Nursery needs 1 – 2 weeks lead time to dig the trees - Transportation of the trees will need to be set up - The ACC Landscape Management Division will get the locates and plant the trees. ● CTC Promotions Committee {Mary Attaway (Chair), Joe Perloff, Phil Hale, Jessie, Tori} -15 min (4:55)  Webpage is https://www.athenstreecouncil.com/ (Rodney will fix the ACC CTC page link)  Donation Letters are being drafted to be sent out  Developing an option for sustaining member donations  3 ● CTC Policy Committee: {Shawn, Joe Bates, Lea Clark, Mary Songster, Marc Beechuk, Rodney Walter} - 10 min (5:05)  Budget - Independent Agency Funding (Part of Mayor’s Discretionary Fund -Mayor must invite) -New Initiative Request through ACC Central Services  “Tree Bank/Tree Fund” (working title) Goals: - Tree Fund – ACC Tree Maintenance and Planting Pool (connected with variances – designed to encourage developers to just follow ordinance requirements_)  Update on CTC Athens Clarke Library Archivist relationship (Not yet contacted) ● Education committee: {Stacee Farrell, Lea Clark, Edith Jackson, Marc Beechuk, Seth Hawkins} – 10 min (5:15)  No Report New Business: Shawn Doonan 4:20 – 5:25 ● Fundraising - 15 minutes (4:35):  State Farm Community Grant application was submitted – There has been no response so far ● Parking Lot Items ( ) Presiding Chair 4:25 ● Meeting Wrap up – (1 minute) Presiding Chair 5:30  A motion was made, seconded, and approved by unanimous vote to adjourn the meeting Athens Community Tree Council Treasurer’s Report: December 7, 2020 submitted by Pam Knox Money Market Account Beginning Balance as of 11/9/2020 $10,025.48 Interest 11/30/2020 0.17 Ending balance as of 12/7/2020 $10,025.65 Checking Account Starting balance 11/9/2020 $1,410.35 Deposit 11/20 1,500.00 Athens Area Comm. Foundation donation Ending balance 12/7/2020 $2,910.35 New PayPal Account AccTrees@athenstreecouncil.org Beginning balance 11/9/2020 $96.80 Donation 11/9 100.00 Donation 11/13 250.00 Donation 12/1 50.00 Donation 12/1 100.00 Donation 12/1 250.00 Donation 12/5 200.00 Donation 12/6 250.00 PayPal fees for these donations -35.15 Ending balance 12/7/2020 $1261.65