Community Tree Council

1 Community Tree Council (CTC) Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: April 12th, 2021 Location: ACC Cisco Webex online meeting, You Tube Streaming Link: https://youtu.be/q1-uMPm4EQs In Attendance - Members: Pam Knox, Rodney Walters, Lea Clark, Holly Campbell, Edith Jackson, Jessie McClellan, Phil Hale, Patrick Perry, Joe Perloff, Victoria Goff, Mary Songster, Ernie Cox, Shawn Doonan (A Quorum Was Present) Staff, Guests, and Ex-Officio Members: Aaron Hall (ACC Planning Arborist), Jeanne Connell (ACC Landscape Manager), Stacee Farrell (KACCB Executive Director) Absent: Joseph Bates, Mary Attaway, Call to Order, Introductions, and Welcome: Joe Perloff 4:00 - 4:05 ● Welcome everyone! We would like to extend a formal welcome to the Ernie Cox, Patrick Perry and Holly Campbell who were formally appointed to the CTC during the April 6th Mayor & Commission Meeting. Housekeeping (Secretary) Rodney Walters 4:10 - 4:15 ● Roll Call Sign in (3 minutes): Attending members and guests were listed on the attendance list ● Action Item: Vote to approve March 2021 CTC meeting minutes and the March 2021 CTC Committee Meeting Minutes: o A motion was made and seconded and approved by unanimous vote to approve the March, 2021 CTC meeting minutes and Committees Meeting minutes. Treasurer’s Report (Information – 5 minutes) Pam Knox 4:10 – 4:15 ● The April 2021 treasurer’s report was submitted and is attached at the end of this document. CTC Business (Executive and Steering Committees, Work Groups Joe Perloff 4:15 – 5:00 ● CTC Executive Committee ● CTC Steering Committee (Executive Committee plus Committee Chairs): 4:35 – 4:40 {Joe (chair), Mary (president elect), Pam, Rodney, Mary Attaway, Mary Songster, Edith Jackson}  Educational Short an/or Forester’s Corner: o Holly will prepare a 15 minute Tree ID presentation at the next CTC meeting  Moon Tree Signage – CTC offers to install the Moon Tree Sign o The moon tree sign post has been installed and the sign will be installed as part of a Historical Society event.  New Member Interview Work Group: 4:40 - 4:45 {Shawn (Leader), Pam, Edith, Rodney, Mary Attaway} o All recommended member appointments have been approved by ACC Mayor & Commission as of Tuesday evening, April 6th! o I’d like to extend a formal welcome to Ernie Cox, Patrick Perry, and Holly Campbell who were formally appointed to the CTC during the April 6th Mayor & Commission meeting.  2  CTC Trees for Tomorrow Work Group: 4:45 - 4:50 {Phil (Leader), Mary Attaway, Joe P., Rodney, Pam, Shawn} o “Our Tree That Owns Itself” seedlings, now saplings, are in desperate need of being repotted from the 3-gallon containers they have been in far too long. The trees (21) are at my house, and I can take that task on, but I do not have pots (5 or 7 gal?) nor potting medium on-hand to accomplish this. o If you have these materials or can acquire them, please let me know. I can come and pick up from you. o Some discussion was made to “sell” for $50/ea. or give as gifts to large donors.  Grants Work Group and Fundraising: 4:50 - 5:00 {Mary Attaway, Stacee, and Edith} o Email sent to explore opportunities for tree planting opportunities (water quality related) o REI Foundations (Grant Application by invitation only) Letter sent to the foundation asking if the CTC could be considered for an invitation o ACC opportunity zones. o Synovous Grant due between July 1st and Sept. 15th o Check with Athens Land Trust for potential planting sites o Check wityh Habitat for Humanity for possible planting sites (Spencer Fry – Director, David – Manager) o Need more volunteers (Patrick will help)  Landmark and Champion Tree Work Group: 5:00 – 5:05 {Shawn (leader), Edith, Joe P., Lea, Phil, Jessie, Patrick, Mary Songster, Rodney} o We’re steadily working through the Champion Tree List to update the status of each tree. o I plan to call a meeting with members soon to see where we are.  Larry Morris memorial Planting Work Group: 5:05 - 5:10 {Shawn (Leader), Jessie, Joe P, Lea, Phil, Patrick} o The most suitable planting location is actually on ACC property that is in the floodplain that was condemned. We need to officially get permission from ACC and I’m seeking advice from Rodney.  Jeanne and Stacee Recommend a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the adopt Athens Program - CTC would agree to a certain amount of maintenance - Record goes to the Mayor and Commission - Field trip will be planned to the site - Stacee will send Shawn an application - A sign may be placed by the adoptee - A simple plan will be drawn up - ACC Landscape Maintenance will not take over maintenance of the site  The consensus is planting an Oak in the fall of 2021. - Field trip will be planned to the site  There’s a notion of planting multiple trees to establish a memorial grove, one of which would be donated by Select Trees. Holly & Joe have trees to donate, and Phil recommended using a Tree That Owns Itself Sapling as well.  We plan to have a field trip to Select to secure a tree.  I plan to call for a meeting to finalize details which includes fundraising ● CTC Committee Reports (Information and Discussion): Joe Perloff 5:05 - 5:25 - We are officially into the 2nd Quarter of the year.  Promotions Committee {Mary Attaway (Chair), Joe Perloff, Phil Hale, Jessie, Tori} o Jessie will embed links to county videos, add bios to the members page o Tori will assemble the answers to the bios we receive. o We discussed the prices for t-shirts. In order to place an order, members need to  3 preorder and prepay, because $200 is only enough for less than 10 shirts. Is it worth it? Vote? - discussion about purchasing name tags or hats rather than T-shirts o Mary and Jessie will meet to work on website in coming weeks. o Pam is investigating the ability to /accept credit card payments online. o Question came up about when to start meeting in person - May a County facility be used to have a public meeting? Answer – yes - What is County policy about in person meetings? - Rodney will explore the County recommendations  CTC Policy Committee: {Mary Songster (Chair), Lea Clark, Rodney Walters, Aaron Hall} o Update on Advocacy letter to M&C - Downtown Trees (Reworking Letter) - ADDA parking services contract was negotiated by Mayor Denson to put in 5% for building facade negotiate from 5% for park revenue, used for downtown trees? Or ROW soil enhancement? Best place for funds to go? (Aaron to Edit) o Update on Advocacy planning “list” - Tree waiver fee - Expand tree bonus to include trees that are 75% to Champion - Parking minimums- tree island maximums - Parking lot tree requirements, change of focus of success metric (soil volume space  Education committee: { Edith Jackson (Chair), Stacee Farrell, Lea Clark, Shawn Doonan, Seth Hawkins} o Insurance (Special Event Insurance – 1 day coverage) o Fall Event - TREE ID ON THE GREENWAY; still fleshing out details such as adult focus or family-friendly event.(30 to 40 species – October 9th works better) (discuss with Winterville Tree Council) o Spring Event - not planned but CTC members open to assisting if educational opportunity identified. Parking Lot Items: 5:25 - 5:29 Meeting Wrap up – (1 minute) Presiding Chair 5:29 - 5:30 * A motion was made, seconded, and approved by unanimous vote to adjourn the meeting Athens Community Tree Council Treasurer’s Report: April 13, 2021 submitted by Pam Knox Money Market Account Beginning Balance as of 3/8/2021 $10,026.14 Interest 3/31/2021 0.17 Ending balance as of 4/13/2021 $10,026.31 Checking Account Starting balance 3/8/2021 $996.11 Check 1263 -25.00 Gift card for award Deposit 3/26/2021 225.00 Ending balance 4/13/2021 $1,196.11 PayPal Account AccTrees@athenstreecouncil.org Beginning balance 3/8/2021 $1,455.25 Ending balance 4/13/2021 $1,455.25