Tree & Landscape Board

Minutes of the Tree and Landscape Board City of College Park Virtual Meeting June 26, 2024, 7:00PM Term Exp. Members Present Absent Staff David Wigglesworth, City Arborist Staff Dutch Nagelvoort, Asst. Director of Landscaping 06/30/2026 Christine O’Brien, Chair 06/30/2024 Todd Reitzel, member 06/30/2025 Emily Friend, member Alexa Bely, CBE representative1 Tekoa Sultan-Reisler, City Intern 1Left @ 8:52 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Also Present: Miriam Bader, City Planning Kim Finch, MNCPPC Carleveva Thompson, Contract Secretary Ms. O’Brien called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 1. Subtitle 25 Update – Trees and Vegetation by Kim Finch, MNCPPC: Ms. Finch presented to the Board on the updates made to Subtitle 25 which included:  New standards on the size of stream buffers  New requirements for tree canopy cover  New forest thresholds and replacement requirements  Additional area that deals with alternative credits and woodland conservation banking  Exemptions  Public notice and comment 2. Planning Update by Miriam Bader: Ms. Bader shared the following highlights:  Paint Branch Preserve, North and South  Guilford Woods project  July 11th - Townhouse development meeting 3. Approval of May Meeting Minutes: The Board reviewed the meeting minutes of the May 22, 2024, meeting and no edits were made. Motion: Approve the May 22, 2024, meeting minutes as presented. Moved: Ms. Friend Second: Dr. Bely Aye: Unanimous Nay: 0 Abstain: 0 4. Public Works Department Report: Mr. Wigglesworth shared the following highlights:  a. Tree Permits  24 Removals approved  0 Pruning approved  0 Removal denied  0 rescinded  9 not required b. Contract Tree Work-Right of Way Trees – Contract awarded to Excel Tree Experts. Work will include pruning 65 trees, removing 13 trees, and grinding 12 stumps. c. Residential Property Tree Planting – 33 applications received. d. Summer Intern - Ms. Sultan-Reisler started June 17th and has been working on the pre-planting meetings for residential tree plantings. She completed a color brochure of the trees that we have available and is also compiling the applicant information in a spreadsheet. e. Urban Master Plan - Emailed Davey Resource Group and waiting for a response. 5. Green Space and Landscaping Report: Mr. Nagelvoort shared the following highlights:  Rain drought is causing the landscape crew to make priorities to water trees over annuals.  Bee City has purchased a 3-inch caliper Oak tree to be planted North of the new Hollywood community garden area.  Landscape crew is being more efficient with weed control. 6. CBE Report: Dr. Bely shared the following highlights:  Electric/manual lawn equipment incentive program: 45 rebates given to date.  Green Awards: 2 awards given to residents that had native landscaped yards.  Green Events for Fall: Planning 2 events, 1 event will be showing an environmental film, and the other event will be a town hall.  Storm Drain Painting: New storm drains to be painted this summer.  Climate Action Plan – CBE approved and was sent to City Council for review.  Bee City Committee Update: Distributed native plants at Hollywood Farmer’s Market and plan to install more bee hotels.  Curbside Compost Program: Promoting use of the program to residents. 7. Old Business  a. Municipal Scene Articles  July article – Spotted Lantern Fly  Orange Day Lilies – August (Ms. Friend) o Future Topics  Japanese Knotweed  Solar Companies and Trees  Adopt A Park  Tree Planting  Spring Cleanup  Woodland Tree Act  Lesser Celandine b. Hollywood Farmers Market - Councilmember Hernandez informed Ms. O’Brien that the TLB is approved to have a table at the Farmers Market and will provide the day members should attend. 8. New Business a. Create a video on how to water a tree – The Board discussing creating a video to show residents how to water a tree. Casey Trees has a video on their website and the Board will review to see if that video can be used. b. New TLB members: 2 new members have been appointed and will start in July. c. City Council is proposing to remove the tree forester requirement because Mr. Wigglesworth is a certified Arborist and would like to know if the Board has concerns. The Board is ok with removing the forester requirement if it doesn’t remove the total number of Board members. 9. Next Meeting Date The next meeting is scheduled on July 17, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 10. Adjournment Ms. Friend motioned to adjourn the meeting. Second by Ms. O’Brien. All members in favor; no opposed. Motion carries, 2-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.