Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Minutes Wednesday, February 18, 2015 v 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Larry Dorr, Kathleen Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Bob Donaldson, Anna Wilson, Kate Walker (Intern) and Dennis Szymanski Guest: None Absent: David Chojnacky, Lindy Hockenberry, Christian Autor 1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order by Larry Dorr at 7:30pm. 2. Approval of December Minutes. 3. Public Comments. N/A 4. New Business.  Kate Walker made a presentation on the app for tree inventory. She will be here for ten weeks and will help determine what data to collect, how to maintain the data, what do we intend to do with the data, and begin data gathering. Having an updated inventory will allow the City to take practical advantage of the data in managing the urban forest. For example, it will provide data on species types, numbers, age and health.  Draft West Broad Street Small Area Plan, sections 5 & 6, are available online and there will be a Public Meeting Feb 21st. Our discussion included staff memo on "1987 West Broad Street Streetscape Standards Update". We expect to discuss at the March meeting.  604 South Oak Subdivision Plat review. This is an updated item as the property owner has submitted a revised plat with newly added development components. 5. Old Business.  Arbor Day Proclamation. Larry Dorr provided a draft for the 36th consecutive Arbor Day proclamation. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call (703) 248-5040. TTY 711.   Tree Commission Annual Report. Larry Dorr is continuing work on the TC Chairman's Annual Report to be presented at an upcoming City Council meeting.  Streetscape design standards. No new information.  Canopy cover study. Tabled to March. We learned the Fairfax County study was only a sample of selected areas (of the County) and did not include Falls Church City.  Percent Canopy cover goal. Tabled.  Making public trees part of a standard proffer package. Councilor Baroukh to discuss with City Attorney to explore how workable this addition would be.  Tree recognition programs. Kathleen Philpot-Costa provided an update to her continuing research into Code Language to be folded into the ongoing project for a single tree recognition program.  Howard Herman Park stream restoration status. Update in March. Dennis Szymanski to follow up with Barry Buschow on tree plantings for the Scout House.  Extending the Tree Canopy Fund to commercial developments. Kathleen is researching Virginia State Regulations for application.  Streetscape Maintenance Agreements with commercial developments and Adherence with adopted, existing streetscape standards. See above under "New Business."  Falls Church’s Urban Forestry web pages. Kate Reich is working with Communications on moving elements around. Updating the content will come later.  Effectiveness of Falls Church (1) tree permits and (2) licenses. Discussion deferred to March meeting.  Backlog of Commercial Sites with missing landscaping. No updated information. Tabled to March meeting.  Falls Church City tree inventory. See New Business above.  Plans for improving the mini park on West Broad by the Unity Club. No additional information 6. Informational Items.  None. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call (703) 248-5040. TTY 711.  7. Next Meeting: March 18th 8. Adjourned at 9:30pm. These minutes are respectively submitted by Dennis Szymanski, Tree Commission Secretary. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in alternate format upon request. Call (703) 248-5040. TTY 711.