Tree & Landscape Board

Approved: 011520 Minutes of the Tree and Landscape Board Davis Hall, City of College Park December 04, 2019 Term Exp. Members Present Absent N/A Brenda Alexander, Public Works Assistant Director 04/30/2021 John Lea-Cox, City Forester 04/30/2021 Christine O’Brien, member 10/31/2019 James Meyer, member 04/09/2021 Janet Wagner, member 04/30/2021 Rashawna Alfred, member 04/30/2021 Todd Reitzel, member Andrea McNamara, CBE representative Oscar Gregory, CBE representative City Planning Representative ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleveva Thompson, Contract Secretary Ms. Alfred called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. 1. Approval November Meeting Minutes: Tabled for the January meeting 2. Public Works Department Report: Ms. Alexander shared the following highlights:  Crews are focusing on leaf collection throughout the City. 3. CBE Report: No report provided. 4. Old Business a. Review City Council’s comments on the College Park Urban Forest Recommendations Several TLB members attended the November 19th City Council’s Worksession to support the recommendations provided by the TLB to the Council. The Council did not provide a vote on the recommendations to move forward, but provided the TLB with questions to address within the recommendations. Dr. Lea-Cox suggested to the Board to remove the penalties and the replacement requirements from the recommendations. The Board reviewed the Council’s questions and continued discussions on the recommendations. The Board proposed the following actions to move forward:  Develop a reward system to reward homeowners that keep trees on their property well maintained.  Explore with Prince George’s County how trees and other infrastructure can reduce impervious surface fees.  Include the TCEP tree list in the updated recommendations.  Find ways to ensure landlords, realtors and house inspectors are informed of the tree permitting policy. 1   Attend City civic association meetings to discuss the TLB’s goal of replacing the City’s tree canopy and discuss the recommended tree list.  Identify awareness that newly planted trees need to be a certain diameter so the newly planted tree will have a better chance of survival.  Invite Mike Galvin to speak during a City-wide meeting to provide information on improving the City’s tree canopy.  Ask the City’s Communication Coordinator to provide a City-wide tree canopy survey to City residents.  Ms. Alexander will update the recommendations with the points discussed from this meeting.  Dr. Lea-Cox will answer the questions received from the City Council. 5. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be held on January 15, 2020. 6. Adjournment Ms. Alfred made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second by Ms. O’Brien. The meeting adjourned at 9:05p.m. 2