Beautification & Tree Commission

Edwardsville Beautification & November 27, 2018 Tree Commission Minutes 6:33 pm City Hall Meeting called by: Benna Denue Type of meeting: Monthly Note taker: Jeffrey Papajcik Attendees: Benna Denue, Susan Bautsch, Dennis Pluta, Jeanie Umbaugh, Kim Schoenfeld, Clint Soldan, Becky Standefer, Bob Pfeiffer, Larry Lipe, Wilma Jene Bond, Hal Patton Absent: Chris Farrar, David Sirko Minutes Agenda item: Reports Discussion:  Minutes from September 25, 2018 meeting reviewed and accepted; motion made by Larry & seconded by Wilma  Becky reported budget as of November 30, 2018 – no specific comments by committee. Conclusions:  Clint is an approved member of the EBTC; Jeffrey is a volunteer member To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Agenda item: EBTC Page(s) on City Web Site Discussion:  Becky has started maintenance and updating activities Conclusions:  To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Develop suggestions for additional pages Kim/Jeff Ongoing Agenda item: Leclaire Park Fest Discussion:  Very successful; lots of interaction between EBTC volunteers and attendees. Conclusions:  Contacts were made for Tree City plantings To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Follow-up on contacts Benna/Clint Jan. 29, 2019 Agenda item: Clock Tower Plantings Discussion:  Anticipate that Prairie Dropseed could be planted in the Spring; this is a difficult location for any plantings to survive. Conclusions:  Soil conditioner could help this site To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Develop a plan for Spring planting Kim/Larry Feb. 26, 2019 Agenda item: Tree Planting Program Discussion:  45 applications were received; 22 reimbursed  Jeffrey asked if commercial sites could be included in the future; Hal mentions that we sent out a reminder on the agreement and 50/50 would be ok. Bob reminds that it is “first come, first reimbursed” up to the limit of the funds in the program. Hal notes that if the building is paying taxes in the City, the owner need not be a resident. Conclusions:  We should develop an approach, take to the ACS Commission, let the Alderpeople know, create a press release To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Develop approach Bob/Jeff March 2019 Agenda item: Arboricultural Specifications Manual Discussion:  Wilma/Larry will provide final review Conclusions:  This can be approved by EBTC; does not need to go to Council To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Report on manual for approval in January 2019 Wilma, Larry Jan. 29, 2019 _______________________________________________________________________ Illinois Grant Application Update from an EBTC ad-hoc meeting on November 11:  As previously reported, Edwardsville applied for a grant from the IDNR Urban & Community Forestry which would be used to create the tree inventory for the city. Susan B. has been working with Meredith (Davey) and a representative from Morton Arboretum to make this application.  The first point of interest is that last year approximately $300k was budgeted. This year only $170k was in the budget.  The City received the news that out of 14 applicants, our application was ranked #10. Unfortunately only the first seven ranked applications were approved. There is a detailed scoring matrix that was sent to the City.  We determined that $12k would be needed to do a tree inventory for the City.  Susan learned through Meredith that Madison County will be doing a tree inventory. The ad-hoc meeting is recommending that the City pursue a partnership with this County effort. This will be an Agenda item at the next EBTC meeting. There are funds in the budget that could be used assist this effort.  Also, the Urban Management Manual is ready to be adopted by EBTC and will be an Agenda item. 2   It is expected that there will be no meeting in December, so our next meeting will need to cover two months of activities/discussions. To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Agenda item: Dog Park Discussion:  Plantings have been completed based on specifications provided by Susan; additional varieties/locations are being considered for area toward the creek. Plans are being made for benches outside the fence. This was funded by the County Park Enhancement Program.  Hal thanked everyone for the effort. Hal also discussed the activities at Drda Woods including the possibility of an observation area. Some of these might be in conjunction with a State CRP plan creating the old growth hardwoods.  There are discussions with another group in town on a new project with a specific beautification component (e.g. the Guitars in Cleveland or Cows in Chicago). Conclusions:  Hal would like an EBTC volunteer to assist with the new project. To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Volunteers for new project Jeffrey/Dennis As needed Agenda item: Drda Woods Clean-up Discussion:  Successful partnership of City employees, EBTC members, and community volunteers Conclusions:  This can be a model for other efforts To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Agenda item: Gov. Coles Monument Clean-up Discussion:  No response from State yet Conclusions:  Still a desirable project To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Follow-up with State representative Jeffrey Jan. 29, 2019 Plummer Park plans are being removed from the minutes until further activities require EBTC attention 3  New Business New Volunteers/Members ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Heartland Conservancy in Partnership with Madison County and EBTC Becky reports on the work being done to produce a tree inventory in Madison County. Heartland has the funds and this will begin in January 2019. A proposal is made to provide funds on a 50/50 basis with Heartland to do an inventory for the City. Funds that were earmarked for the Forestry Grant could be used for this purpose. A motion was made to allow Public Works to approve a partnership with Heartland not to exceed $7500. This motion was made by Sue, seconded by Benna, and approved. To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Public Works to pursue partnership and report at January Bob Jan. 29, 2019 meeting ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arbor Day/Tree City Application Benna/Clint responsible for this planning To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Report on status Benna/Clint Jan. 29, 2019 ________________________________________________________________________________________________ City Hall Contacts Cheryl Watson and Tim Han are both leaving. They helped with coordination some of the programs. No replacements for contacts have been named yet. To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Commemorative plants to Cheryl/Tim Dennis Jan. 29, 2019 ________________________________________________________________________________________________ New Ideas Should we continue the Fall plantings in the pots on the streets? Can a home owners’ association (Montclaire) provide pots and plants if the City will take care of placement and watering? Huntsville Pop-up Park – rent and beautify a parking space. Can we do something in Woodlawn Cemetery like Bellefontaine does with their arborist tour? To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  4  Continuing To-Dos To-Dos Person responsible Deadline  Add agenda item to February meeting for decision on Benna Feb. 2019 roses at Gov. Coles monument Meeting was adjourned at 7:42 pm Next meeting scheduled for January 29, 2019. 5