Tree & Landscape Board

Approved: December 17, 2014 M&C Nagro Gardiner FINAL / Minutes of the Tree and Landscape Board City Hall, City of College Park November 19, 2014 Term Exp. Members Present Absent Brenda Alexander, Public Works Deputy Director Steven Beavers, Planning Representative 11/30/2016 John Krouse, Chairperson 12/31/2014 John Lea-Cox, City Forester 9/30/2016 Joseph Smith, Member 10/31/2016 Mark Wimer, Member Gemma Evans, CBE Liaison, Janis Oppelt, CBE Chair Also present: Luigi Colella, University of Maryland Journalism student Hollianne Gauss, University of Maryland Journalism student Terry Schum, Planning Director Chairperson Krouse called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. I. Approval of the Meeting Minutes Motion: The October 15, 2014 Tree and Landscape Board meeting minutes were approved, with corrections. Moved: Mr. Wimer Second: Mr. Smith Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 II. Public Works  All of the pansies and bulbs have been planted, and all of the fall trees (36 replacement street trees) have been planted.  Two residential locations were mowed for tall grass abatement as requested by Code Enforcement.  The athletic fields at Calvert Road School and Duvall were core aerated and fertilized.  Compost screening has been completed (approximately 2,700 cubic yards) and is available for sale; residents can pick it up during regular business hours.  Public Works provided training for snow removal operations during In-Service Day at the end of October. 1   The City received a Beautification award for the Veterans Memorial from Prince George’s County.  Ms. Alexander recently sent out a request for bids for contract tree work (pruning and removal); bids should come in by early December 2014. III. Planning Activities  The Department of Planning a received grant for the bioswales on Rhode Island Avenue in Berwyn (between Greenbelt Road and Tecumseh Street) from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Mr. Beavers is in the process of writing up a contract for the low-impact development center to finalize the design of the two bioswales on Rhode Island. He hopes to have the contract signed in approximately the next month; it will be a 3 to 4-month process.  The City recently received a $30,000 grant from the Transportation Land Use Connections Program for a complete and green streets policy and implementation plan through the Council of Governments, who coordinates the program and pays the consultant. The City has been matched up with Kittelson Associates to do the planning. After studying the City and receiving input from the community, a policy will be drafted to submit to the Mayor and Council for their approval (e.g., prioritizing where to put sidewalks, bicycle accommodations, landscaping in a streetscape). IV. Airport Tree Cutting The TLB would like to see the response letter once it is received by the Mayor in response to his letter to the M-NCPPC Deputy Director, dated October 14, 2014. V. Hollywood Gateway Park The plans for the Hollywood Gateway Park were reviewed at the October 15, 2014 TLB meeting. Dr. Lea-Cox is not in favor of a green roof tray system or modular green roof system. He suggested a single strata green roof instead and explained that they are less expensive, easier to install, function better, drain more uniformly, and require less maintenance. He also stated that a tray system would have to be replaced in 10 years, but a non-modular system would last longer. In addition, there may be student interest to install the project. VI. Landscape Plans for Rt. 1 Reconstruction Mr. Beavers provided the landscape plans for Rt. 1, which were reviewed by members in attendance. Ms. Schum explained that the Mayor and Council requested the TLB to review the plans because State Highway recently attended a council meeting and presented the 90% drawings for the Rt. 1 reconstruction project, which includes plant landscaping. Comments from Ms. Alexander regarding landscaping were previously submitted; however, the only landscaping reflected on the plans is in the median and none in the landscape strip on either side of the roadway. There is also an enhanced planting area with brick treatment in front of the University, which they will pay to maintain. Other medians are designed with median and turf, with grass and landscape plantings. Chairman Krouse requested a PDF copy of the landscape plans, which will be provided to all TLB members by Ms. Schum for further review. VII. 2015 TLB Activities / Ideas for New Members 2  Chairperson Krouse stated that the TLB activities selected for 2015 could serve as a catalyst to attract new members, as follows:  Landscape plans for Rt. 1  Growing the tree canopy  Incentivized tree planting on private property  Tree inventory data (diverse analysis); Mr. Smith is interested in doing that work VIII. TLB Documentation on City Website Ms. Alexander stated that the TLB member information and phone numbers have been updated on the City website. Chairperson Krouse also suggested including the four activities/goals listed above. IX. New Business The TLB will have to begin planning for Arbor Day which will occur in April 2015. X. Miscellaneous  Mr. Beavers stated that residents can use an innovative tool called YardMap (www.yardmap.org ), which allows them to mark off the trees and other types of wildlife habitat they have in their own yard. YardMap will tell how many birds they will attract and the different benefits of the ecosystem that is created in their yard.  Mr. Beavers recently met Debbie Weller at a Sustainability Action Workshop for the Environmental Finance Center; she has worked with Ms. Alexander on the tree releaf rebate. Mr. Beavers mentioned that the TLB has been discussing doing a tree incentive or tree bulk purchase program, and Ms. Weller would like to conduct a hands-on workshop on tree planting.  The topic of tree protection during construction will be discussed at the December meeting. XI. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn the November 19, 2014 meeting: Moved: Mr. Lea-Cox Second: Mr. Smith Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 The TLB meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m. The next TLB meeting is scheduled for December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. Minutes prepared by Debra Pinkett, Contract Secretary for the City of College Park 3