Landscape & Design Committee

CITY OF CORTLAND LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN COMMISSION Minutes – March 15, 2018 Mayor’s Conference Room at 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Mike Dexter (Chair), Paul Paradine, Theresa Quail, Diane Batzing Approve February 8, 2018 Minutes: Comm. Quail, 1st; Comm. Paradine, 2nd May 2018 Tree Program Planning • Jim Kisker of Schichtel’s Nursery has contacted the Finance Dept. for the second time for a confirmation of available funding for our trees to be delivered in May. Common Council has not yet voted for miscellaneous revenues. • Several emails were exchanged between Nic Dovi (DPW), Comm. Batzing and others regarding tree applications for residents requesting replacement trees, for which stumps have yet to be removed and for which funding for removal has not yet been approved. We should not assume stumps will be removed before our planting date. • Linda Armstrong discussed with Comm. Batzing the need to send letters to 5 or 6 tree applicants with taxes due. Comm. Batzing will ask the Mayor and/or Common Council to drop this requirement for tree eligibility. The Commission feels that trees are a benefit for the entire community and not just the property owner. With the current grant, 50% of the trees are required to be planted in flood and brownfield sites. • Comm. Batzing will meet with 8th Ward Alderman Tom Michaels to survey the City-owned Pendleton St. property where several trees are scheduled to be planted. • Schichtel’s Nursery has called the City regarding available funding for this May’s trees. We expect that the City will be approving funds in March. Recent Tree Concerns/Notes • Comm. Dexter was notified that National Grid is currently trimming trees on Hubbard St. Other • On March 22, 2018 Comms. Dexter and Batzing will meet with Mary Kramarcyk (NYSDEC) and local DEC representative Matt Swayze to plan the implementation of the City-awarded Chesapeake Bay Planting Grant involving the planting of 25 trees. • Comm. Dexter read research articles by ESF professors, printed in the Syracuse Post Standard, about the benefits of planting more trees. • Comm. Paradine will attend the Twelfth Annual Tree City USA Recognition Ceremony and workshop in Albany on March 29th. He will receive our eleventh year award materials at that time. • Mayor Tobin has received property owner concerns about planting large trees in the City due to roots lifting sidewalks and also affecting sewer lines. Comm. Batzing and Jim Maloney (National Grid) will meet with the Mayor to discuss the planting of only small trees. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, April 12, 2018 – Mayor’s Conference Room at 4 p.m. Respectfully, Comm. Batzing