Community Tree Council

1 Community Tree Council (CTC) Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: September 13th, 2021 Location: Landscape Management Division Webex online at https://youtu.be/TXLBNy-gyGU In Attendance - Members: Rodney Walters, Patrick Perry, Pam Knox, Edith Jackson, Shawn Doonan, Joe Perloff, Phil Hale, Mary Songster, Joe Perloff, Jessie McClellan, Mary Songster, Victoria Goff, Holly Campbell, Mary Attaway (A Quorum Was Present) Staff, Guests, and Ex-Officio Members: Eric Caubo (ACC Arborist), Aron Hall (ACC Planner), Lea Clarke (GFC), Jeanne Connell (ACC Landscape Management), Andrew Saunders (ACC Central Services), Stacee Farrell (Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful), Russell Edwards (ACC Commissioner) Absent: Ernie Cox, Call to Order, Introductions, and Welcome: Joe Perloff 4:00 - 4:05 ● Welcome everyone 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 August 2021 CTC meeting minutes: o A motion was made and seconded and approved by unanimous vote to approve the August, 2021 CTC meeting minute. Treasurer’s Report (Information – 5 minutes) Pam Knox 4:10 – 4:15 CTC Business (Executive and Steering Committees, Work Groups Joe Perloff 4:15 – 4:30 ● CTC Executive Committee {Joe (chair), Jessie McClellan (president elect), Pam, Rodney} o ACC COVID protocols regarding in-person meetings have been released. o The following items pertain to the CTC:  “In-Person Meetings / Use of Technology: - Please limit the use of in-person meetings. If in-person meetings are required, please maintain 6-feet distance between each member of the meeting and refrain from having more than 10 attendees. - Instead of in-person meetings, please utilize technology, Webex/Jabber, VOIP phones, which are all supported by IT.” o Discussion Item It is advised that the CTC come up with its own guidelines moving forward, regarding meeting setting (in-person vs. online), for general council meetings, committee meetings, and work group meetings. *Motion: Motion made and passes by unanimous vote for the Community Tree Council to continue to meet, but to modify its meeting format to an online only meeting until ACC provides other meeting guidelines. ● CTC Steering Committee (Executive Committee plus Committee Chairs): 4:35 – 4:40 {Joe (chair), Jessie McClellan (president elect), Pam, Rodney, Mary Attaway, Mary Songster, Edith Jackson}  Educational Short and/or Forester’s Corner:  2  New Member Interview Work Group: 4:40 - 4:45 {Shawn (Leader), Pam, Edith, Rodney, Mary Attaway} o Actively visiting with prospective CTC nominees to select candidates for CTC membership o 2 prospective nominees have been interviewed. Expect to interview 4 additional prospective nominees. o The Interview Work Group will provide candidate recommendations for the CTC to vote on in October for the nominees that will be sent to the Mayor and Commission for consideration as CTC members.  CTC Trees for Tomorrow Work Group: 4:45 - 4:50 {Phil (Leader), Mary Attaway, Joe P., Rodney, Pam, Shawn} o White oak seedlings (10 – 12 trees obligated to people, 10 remaining) - Phil will get one of these trees to Catlin Mertzluff - Large interest in these trees for $50 donations - Idea of cultivating trees at the Athens Land Trust Community Gardens has a lot of momentum - Offers of support expressed for any such program that may simultaneously provide potential on the job experience and produce trees for the Athens community.  Grants Work Group and Fundraising: 4:50 - 5:00 {Mary Attaway, Stacee, and Edith} o Grants & Fundraising requests a list of potential planting sites available with description. o Meeting venue for 9/20. o Synovus update o Imminent deadlines for grant applications – Georgia Releaf Program - focus for this program is for disaster replanting (south Georgia). Not a good option at this time. o Grand applications still open for “adoption.” o Habitat Proposal (Charles Smith)  Landmark and Champion Tree Work Group: 5:00 – 5:05 {Shawn (leader), Edith, Joe P., Lea, Phil, Jessie, Patrick, Mary Songster, Rodney} o No discussion  Larry Morris memorial Planting Work Group: 5:05 - 5:10 {Shawn (Leader), Jessie, Joe P, Lea, Phil, Patrick} o Meeting on Wednesday with Athens Clarke County staff o Larry Morris’s celebration of life will be held on November 13th at Flinchum’s Phoenix ● CTC Committee Reports (Information and Discussion): Joe Perloff 5:05 - 5:25  Promotions Committee {Mary Attaway (Chair), Joe Perloff, Phil Hale, Jessie, Tori} o Wooden nametags have been ordered and will be provided to current CTC members. o Explore the Post Falls Tree Walk as a potential model for tree walks  CTC Policy Committee: {Mary Songster (Chair), Lea Clark, Rodney Walters, Aaron Hall} * Motion made by Mary Songster to submit the Tree Policy Advisory Letter to the Planning department. The motion passed with 8 members voting in favor to submit the letter and 1 member (Rodney Walters) abstaining from the vote. Vote was passed without discussion based on the Policy Committee recommendations.  Education committee: { Edith Jackson (Chair), Stacee Farrell, Lea Clark, Shawn Doonan, Seth Hawkins} o Oct. 30th “Tree ID on Greenway” – Participants need to register by October 22nd , mobility preference needs to be provided. [(Planning for 70 enrollees (5 Groups)] - Door Prizes (Saplings from the “Tree that Owns Itself, Native tree saplings, Stickers, Apples or something) o Oct. 30th “Tree ID on Greenway” – Will happen rain or shine, will be ADA accessible - Set up 8:00 to 9:00, Tree ID event 10:00 until 12:00, Break down by 1:00 - 10:00 – 12:30, CTC volunteers are needed. Parking Lot Items: 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  3 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Athens Community Tree Council Treasurer’s Report: August 16, 2021 submitted by Pam Knox Money Market Account Beginning Balance as of 6/14/2021 $10,026.65 Interest 6/30/2021 0.16 Interest 7/31/2021 0.17 Ending balance as of 8/16/2021 $10,026.98 Checking Account Starting balance 6/14/2021 $1,116.11 Ending balance 8/16/2021 $1,116.11 PayPal Account AccTrees@athenstreecouncil.org Beginning balance 6/14/2021 $1,455.25 Ending balance 8/16/2021 $1,455.25 Treasurer’s Report: September 13, 2021 submitted by Pam Knox Money Market Account Beginning Balance as of 8/16/2021 $10,026.98 Interest 8/31/2021 0.17 Ending balance as of 9/13/2021 $10,027.15 Checking Account Starting balance 8/16/2021 $1,116.11 Ending balance 9/13/2021 $1,116.11 PayPal Account AccTrees@athenstreecouncil.org Beginning balance 8/16/2021 $1,455.25 Paid out $5.50 by accident to buy lottery tickets for KAACB but repaid through my own PayPal account Ending balance 9/13/2021 $1,455.25