Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Minutes Wednesday, August 19, 2015 v 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Kate Reich, Kathleen Philpott Costa, Kate Walker, Bob Donaldson, Barbara Tesner, Kwafo Djan and Dennis Szymanski Guests: John Tesner Absent: Christian Autor 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm. 2. Approval of Minutes: June minutes were deferred. 3. Public Comments: None 4. Old Business — Specimen Tree nominations. The Arborist has six nominations and will seek a process clarification from the City Clerk on specific next steps. 5. Current Business  New Tree Commissioner. Barbara Tesner was welcomed as a newly appointed Tree Commissioner. Barbara executed the Oath of Office on this date.  Select officers. The following selections were unanimously approved: - Chair - Dennis Szymanski - Vice Chair - Barbara Tesner - Secretary - Kathleen Philpott 6. Streetscape planning for joint work session with Planning Commission. Scheduling a timely work session has proven difficult due to participants availability, so it was decided that Kwafo Djan would discuss with Jim Snyder a staff level talk with Kate Reich to help focus any session. The Tree Commissioners are more interested in having a conversation with the Planning Commissioners than in providing any proscriptive design without a discussion. 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. Plan Reviews  Latest Mason Row proposal. No additional comments at this time.  Broad & Washington proposal. Kate has sent a link to this proposal and requested comments. Initial representations show on street parking for East Broad St and inadequate vegetative buffer on the Lawton St side of the project. 8. Informational Items  No additional information. 8. Future Business  Tree canopy goals and strategies. As follow up to information the Arborist provided both the City Manager and City Councilors, Bob Donaldson made a motion listing the following tasks: 1. Request the Arborist update the FCC tree canopy every five (5) years using the US Forest Service methodology and continue with this methodology until are more efficient, cost effective one is available; 2. Add the five (5) year update task to the Tree Commission Calendar with the next update due in April 2020; and, 3. Draft a letter to the Board of VPIS offering this support for the VPIS "Five Environmental Goals" publication. Dennis Szymanski seconded the motion and with no further discussion, the Tree Commission approved unanimously. 9. Adjourned: 9:30pm 10. Next Meeting: September 16th 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.