Landscape & Design Committee

CITY OF CORTLAND LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES – August 13, 2015 Mayor’s Conference Room at 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Mike Dexter (Chair), Jeff Davidson, Anne Doyle, Nick DeCarlo, Paul Paradine, Diane Batzing Approve the April 9, 2015 Minutes: Comm. Davidson, 1st; Comm. Paradine, 2nd Review May Tree Planting Program Sixty-two of the DEC grant two-year total of 120 trees were planted. Schichtel’s Nursery will credit us for two red chestnuts that arrived dead from the nursery. This year the Water Department rather than the DPW worked with Comms. Dexter and Batzing in completing the project. Some applicants were unable to receive trees due to underground utility interference. Forty-seven trees were planted at East End sites, and fifteen were planted outside of the East End, in accordance to grant conditions. Tree City USA Proclamation On Saturday, April 18, 2015 Rep. Richard Hanna and two staff members presented a Proclamation at Court House Park to recognize Cortland for its 8 years of participation in the program. When asked what he could do to assist in our tree efforts, we mentioned that the lack of funds for tree and stump removals, as well as sidewalk replacement funds. His assistant provided an application for requesting monies, but it dealt with Constituent Casework requests rather than City requests. We were impressed with Rep. Hanna’s knowledge of trees. Arbor Day Proclamation On Friday, April 24, 2015 a paper bark maple was planted on the Church St. ROW. This tree is not doing well, as have other trees planted at this site. Comm. Paradine will submit a soil sample for testing. City employees would like to collect donations for a tree to be planted in memory of Andy Damiano, the former Director of Finance and Administration, for next year’s Arbor Day planting. 2016 Tree Program Planning Commissioners discussed several species for next May’s program. Using the Water Board street directory, commissioners will need to survey the East End for tree spaces. Linda Armstrong (Thoma Development) will send letters to landlords to request tree applications. Funding Questions for 2017 and Beyond We have some monies in the National Grid 10,000 tree program, as well as $1055 from the tree vandalism incident court decision, but there has not been a Round 13 DEC grant announcement yet. Comm. Batzing will call Debra Gorka from the DEC regarding future possible funding. Recent Tree Concerns/Notes • Comm. Dexter will talk to John McNerney regarding future replacement of the row of linden trees along Huntington St. • Will the Kentucky Coffee trees planted on the Cowance St. triangle park need to be moved for the West Road construction? Comm. Paradine noted that they can be moved if necessary. Other • Comm. Etherington’s resignation from the Landscape and Design Commission was accepted with regrets. • Comm. Dexter’s Letter to the Editor on April 16, 2015, Apply Now For Trees, was noted. • Comm. Dexter and Jim Maloney judged high school ideas for emerald ash borer eradication at Camp Owatta’s Envirathon. Cincinnatus was the winner. • Several tree stumps have been removed to ground level by the City’s asphalt grinder attachment on its new skid steer. • The Port Watson/Church St. rose garden has been weeded and beautifully mulched, but we do not know who has done the work! NEXT MEETING: Thursday, September 10, 2015 – Mayor’s Conference Room at 4 p.m. Respectfully, Comm. Batzing