Landscape & Design Committee

CITY OF CORTLAND LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN COMMISSION MINUTES – August 12, 2020 70 Church St., Cortland at 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Mike Dexter (Chair), Anne Doyle, Theresa Quail, Melinda Shimizu, Diane Batzing Consulting Arborist: Jim Maloney Approve June 10, 2020 Minutes: Comm. Quail, 1st; Comm. Doyle, 2nd Updates for May 2020 National Grid Planting Project • The Water Department has been watering the trees every other day, and a Pudgies gift card was given to them as a thank you. This has been an especially hot and dry period, and when the weather becomes more acceptable for planting, Nic Dovi and Jim Maloney will approve the start of the project. UFPOs will need to be marked. NYS Urban Forestry Council Grant Opportunity • Communities that have been a Tree City USA for at least the past five years can apply for a grant up to $1000. The project is to be completed by the Spring of 2021. Eligible projects include: 1) planting a large specimen tree in a prominent site within the community, accessible to the public; 2) planting a grove in a prominent site within the community, accessible to the public; 3) an event to celebrate the community’s Tree City USA status and ongoing community forestry program The Commission discussed possible sites for this project. Recent Tree Concerns/Notes • A W. Court St. property owner has notified us that his maple tree has died following root damage during sidewalk replacement. He will receive a replacement next spring. • One of the 20 concolor fir trees on Church St. is dying. • The owner of rental property at 200 Main St. would like to remove the two right-of-way trees. Following inspection, it was decided that the canopies should be lifted (pruned). These are beautiful specimens with no health problems. • The owner of a tree at the corner of Maple and Halpert Streets is having a tree removed. • Comm. Dexter and Jim Maloney will inspect a dying tree on Hickory Park. Other • Comms. Dexter and Batzing attended a Microsoft Teams meeting about the Clinton Ave. project and learned that a 5’-6’ swale will be constructed between sidewalks and the street, to contain native plantings. The DOT does not support the planting of trees because the traffic view would be obstructed as residents back from driveways. Next Meeting: September 9, 2020 at 4 p.m. -- Location TBD Respectfully, Comm. Batzing