Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Wednesday, August 20, 2014 v 7:30 - 10:00 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Larry Dorr, David Chojnacky, Bob Donaldson, Kathleen Philpott Costa, Karen Oliver, Kate Sutalo and Dennis Szymanski Guest: None Absent: Lindy Hockenberry 1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm. 2. Public Comments. None 3. New Business - Tree Canopy and Redevelopment. David Chojnacky presented some preliminary findings for a study where Falls Church City and Virginia Tech are collaborating to improve decision-making for preserving urban tree canopy after housing redevelopment. The objective of the study is to provide a more scientific basis for evaluating tree cover for future redevelopment. (How do trees and redevelopment mix? To what extent are tree replacements compensating for tree removals?) The genesis was that David was approached by the City Arborist with idea of using “grading plans” to evaluate impacts of residential redevelopment on tree canopy cover in the City. David shared some conclusions: • City administrative records—from grading plans—are being combined with tree inventory re-measurements, simple modeling, and GIS techniques to estimate tree canopy before and after development. • Also, preliminary data analysis reveals basal area metrics could potentially enhance the canopy cover measure as specified in the City code. • To its great credit, the City Code includes trees in redevelopment planning but there is considerable opportunity to carefully study more forestry metrics before selecting one for measuring Code compliance. • But to do this…more entities are needed for funding urban forestry research…there is ample money to fund boots-on-the ground “work projects” but little funding to develop the best applied science for justifying or evaluating the worth of these projects. 1 He hopes to present a complete set of findings for the October Tree Commission meeting. - North Cherry St. Grading Plan. The Grading Plan had been approved by the City's Contractor Arborist in the spring. There are no significant Tree Commission issues. - Jennings Property Beech removal. The Arborist has reminded the property owner that in accordance with the site plan, the replacement must be planted within 180 days to replace per site plan (December 2014). - Miller House. As decisions for future use of this property are made, the Tree Commission will encourage planting of street trees. - Shared financial responsibility for City-owned Street Trees. As there is no written policy, and in order to have a consistent response, the Arborist will lead a discussion of policy issues and options at an upcoming meeting. 4. Old Business. - Falls Church City Web site. The following are some issues and suggestions on how the Tree Commission and Urban Forestry are displayed on the new City Website. 1. Only if one knows to go to the “Public Works” page is there a link to Urban Forestry. And, there is no link to find “Urban Forestry” or “Arborist” or “Trees” on any of the main pages of the website: Government, Services, Business, Community, or "How Do I". 2. On the Urban Forestry page, in addition to what is already there, we should include the following: a. Explanation of the rules concerning tree removal b. Link to Tree Removal Permit c. Link to Approved Tree Contractors d. Link to Approved Tree list, both Commercial and Residential e. Link to Specimen Tree / Notable Tree page f. Link to Tree City USA page g. Link to Arbor Day & Tree of the Year page 4. There are bullet points on the Urban Forestry page, under “Approach to Tree Care”. It would be useful, if not necessary, for these bullets going to have links? 5. On the Tree Commission page, list each commission member with the date his/her term expires. The Tree Commission believes an update to its description on the website is in order. The existing text (in “Overview” paragraph on Tree Commission page) reads: The Tree Commission provides advice concerning the regulations governing the removal of trees from public and private property, and ensuring the replacement of 2 adequate trees. It also advises on regulations concerning hazardous or diseased trees and on trees and plantings on city streets or property. The commission makes recommendations on relevant legislation, plans, policies, and programs. The Tree Commission advises the City Council and City Manager. The suggested revised text is as follows: The Tree Commission advises the City’s Arborist, Council and Manager on tree conservation, removal and replacement on public and private property, and in particular during commercial and residential development projects. The Tree Commission also makes recommendations for treatment, removal and replacement of hazardous or diseased trees. In addition, Commission makes recommendations on current and proposed tree regulations, policies and practices that promote the City’s overall goal of preserving the tree canopy and maximizing its ecological and aesthetic benefits to the community. Bob Donaldson will follow up with Kate Sutalo and the City Webmaster on behalf of the Tree Commission. - Existing Com Landscape Agreements. - Army Recruiting Station. A tree died and was removed. A permit not pulled and the Arborist is following up. - Falls Chase: The Arborist met with a tree service that was making a bid to the property owners/managers and she agreed to watch them work when they are pruning live trees. In the past, work at this property has not been accomplished in accordance with standards. The Arborist has not been notified that are ready to start work.. - Rite Aid. There is a neglected fence by the retention pond behind the Rite Aid that creates some public safety concerns. The Arborist will review the site plan to determine who is responsible for maintenance. - Trees by CITGO on Broad St. City trees have been damaged by property owner, and the owner has been fined. The Arborist will follow up on replacements. - Private Maintenance of Streetscape on Public Property. As early as September 2013, the Tree Commission had gone on record strongly opposing having a private party maintain the City's Streetscape on public property without a public vetting of the change in policy. As a shared issue, the Village Preservation and Improvement Society expressed concern over multiple disparate streetscapes, i.e., each developer would maintain their own. It is now our understanding that a proposal is ready for submission that the City would retain ownership and maintenance of only the trees, while shrubs, flowers, and all hardscape would be maintained by the developer. Regardless that this 'compromise' might appear illogical on its face, the Tree Commission remains concerned the impact of such an agreement on the Arborist and other DPW staff, as well as the unintended consequences of the agreement, have yet to be studied or even considered. 3 Chairman Dorr will schedule a meeting with the City Manager for Tree Commission representatives to discuss our concerns over both the absence of due process as well as the substance of the above concerns. - Acknowledgement letters for Specimen tree Property Owners. Deferred to the September meeting. Information items. - Broad & West Project - There will be a public meeting on Sept 4th and the project will be presented to Boards & Commissions on Sept 15; -Cherry St Child Development Center opening has been delayed. - Kensington Streetscape Change. The Arborist reported that when she reminded the developer the streetscape included a raised brick border around trees, she was told the Broad St Standard had been overruled. The Tree Commission remains concerned that removal of a raised guard around tree beds could result in greater harm to the trees from sidewalk traffic and street and snow cleaning materials. Exactly 'who' and 'how' has yet to be determined, and the Tree Commission will follow up. 5. Next Meeting: September 17th 6. Approval of Minutes: June minutes were approved. 7. Adjourned at 10:00 These minutes are respectively submitted by Dennis Szymanski, Tree Commission Secretary. 4