Tree & Landscape Board

Approved: 061720 Minutes of the Tree and Landscape Board City of College Park Virtual Meeting May 20, 2020 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 10/31/2021 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 Scott Somers, City Manager Ms. Alfred called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 1. Approval of Meeting Agenda: The agenda for the May 20, 2020 meeting was reviewed. Motion: The agenda order was re-arranged to start with the tree ordinance. Moved: Ms. Alfred Second: Dr. Lea-Cox Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Approval of January Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the January 15, 2020 meeting were reviewed. Motion: Adopt January meeting minutes with edits. Moved: Ms. Alfred Second: Dr. Lea-Cox Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 3. Public Works Department Report:  The department is working on reduced scheduled due to COVID-19.  Installed 38 replacement street trees.  Replaced 50 perennials in the Ikea median.  Summer annuals delivered and installed.  Plan to start weeding downtown medians on Route 1.  Received two requests from code enforcement for tall grass abatement.  Contract mowing was approved by the City Council and mowing will occur weekly on Thursdays.  Bid sent on contract tree work.  Upcoming Pepco work in June 1 4. CBE Report: Mr. Gregory shared the following highlights:  Volunteer food scrap program is still ongoing.  Bulk trash pilot program is open.  Voted to spend money on mosquito traps, car magnets, and permaculture garden items.  30 residents have signed up for Project Drawdown.  Discussed pollinator gardens and possible bee housing giveaways.  2 CBE members want to sign up for the new Bee City USA Committee.  Received notice that they are in the Sustainability State Community Energy challenge.  Discussed letters sent to the City Council regarding Furnace rentals and Curbside Composting.  Green Award nominees  Signage on Trolley Trail and Paint Branch Trail to identify older trees – Would like TLB to collaborate with this item. 5. Old Business a. Private Tree Permitting Ordinance The Board reviewed Mr. Somers’ comments that were provided on the private tree ordinance and items were updated in the private tree ordinance. The Board will review the updated document and finalize during the June meeting. 6. New Business a. City of College Park website page for trees The Board discussed drafting a memo to Mr. Somers to add a tree URL on the City website. It was also suggested to have the Communications Coordinator attend a TLB meeting. b. Tree Trimming at College Park Airport Mr. Somers provided an update on the May 19, 2020 Council meeting that was held regarding plans to conduct tree trimming at the College Park airport. Dr. Lea-Cox provided an update on the total number of trees to be trimmed (information provided by the MNCPP in their presentation to the City Council). These statistics were: Tree Height Pruned Number of Trees to be Pruned 0 – 10 ft 1662 10-20 ft 812 20-30 ft 271 30-40 ft 64 40-50 ft 86 >50 ft 90 Dr. Lea-Cox noted that in his opinion, most trees that were pruned more than 30ft would not survive. Dr. Lea-Cox noted that he had made a point to the MNCPPC that any further tree 2 loss should be included in future tree replanting mitigation plans, in addition to the 1160 trees that they are already intending to replant in 2020/2021 to mitigate the 387 trees already removed. 7. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be held on June 17, 2020. 8. Adjournment Ms. Alfred made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Second by Dr. Lea-Cox. The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m. 3