Tree & Landscape Board

Approved: 012121 Minutes of the Tree and Landscape Board City of College Park Virtual Meeting December 16, 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 Daniel Warfield, CBE representative ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carleveva Thompson, Contract Secretary Ms. Alfred called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. 1. Approval of Meeting Agenda: The agenda for the December 16, 2020 meeting was reviewed. Motion: Dr. Lea-Cox motioned to move new business items up on the agenda. Moved: Ms. Alfred Second: Dr. Lea-Cox Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Approval of October Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the October 21, 2020 meeting were reviewed and edits were made to the minutes. Motion: Accept October meeting minutes as amended. Moved: Ms. Alfred Second: Dr. Lea-Cox Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 3. Approval of November Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the November 18, 2020 meeting were reviewed and the Board decided to postpone the approval of the minutes until the next meeting. Motion: Postpone approval of November minutes Moved: Mr. Reitzel Second: Dr. Lea-Cox Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 4. Public Works Department Report: Ms. Alexander shared the following highlights: • Received notification that Pepco line clearance work will continue into 2021. • There will also be pruning work that continues up Route 1 from MD 193 into Beltsville. 1  • Currently finalizing a list of replacement trees that Pepco will be providing to the City. The tree replacements will be planted by a contractor in 2021. • Contracted tree maintenance work with Excel is near completion. • City street tree replacements are complete and 40 trees were installed. • The landscape crew have been working on leaf removal and they will begin street tree clearance pruning over the sidewalks. The crew also installed all the holiday decorations in the Downtown business district and in the mid-town areas. • Submitted the renewal application for Tree City USA and received the DNR annual Roadside Tree permit. • Attended first Bee City Committee meeting as the staff liaison on December 15, 2020. Ms. Alexander was asked a question regarding tree removal for the new dog park and responded that planting of new trees around the compost yard have been planted as tree replacements. 5. CBE Report: No updates. 6. Old Business a. Review – Public forum discussion 11/18/2020 The Board reviewed the discussions that occurred during the virtual Urban Tree Canopy forum held on November 18, 2020. The common themes discussed were the cost of tree maintenance, providing City residents incentives for tree maintenance such as free mulch, and requiring replacement trees after tree removal. 7. New Business a. Review and update TLB mission and purpose statements (due to Council by December 31, 2020): The TLB reviewed the Board’s purpose statements and made the following updates to the purpose: 1) Enhance the beauty of the City 2) Advise the City staff on planting, removal and maintenance of trees, shrubs and ground covers in or upon public ways or public areas within the City limits. 3) Protect trees, shrubs, ground covers and other materials located on public property from undesirable or unsafe installation, removal and maintenance practices to ensure that no liability occurs from said practices. 4) Identify and guard against landscape conditions (e.g., trees weakened by diseases, construction, storm damage, etc.) that may result in injury to persons using the public ways and areas and/or damage to public property. 5) Coordinate with State agencies to monitor and guard City landscapes against the spread of diseases or pests. 2  6) Educate and encourage College Park citizens to adopt practices that promote and protect healthy trees, shrubs and ground covers on private land. Ms. Alfred called a vote to make the changes to the TLB’s purpose statement. All members approved; no opposed, 6-0. b. Tree canopy lost in Hyattsville The Board discussed an article that described the tree canopy lost in Hyattsville, Maryland. c. Annual Work Plan (due to Council by December 31, 2020) The Board reviewed the drafted work plan and included the following: • Continue to engage MNCPP on tree replacements and mitigation for the College Park Airport Project. • Investigate partnerships to encourage mitigation of tree loss by development within City limits. • Write and publish educational materials related to tree and landscape maintenance to be posted on the City’s trees website. The following issues were identified to bring to the City Council: • Address tree removals in conjunction with new development projects within the City. • Planning Department representation on TLB to directly address impacts on right of way planting by the Complete Streets Policy and other redevelopment projects by and within the City. 8. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021. 9. Adjournment Ms. Alfred adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. 3