Urban Forestry Commission

Tree Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 18, 2015 v 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Dogwood Room, City Hall Present: Dennis Szymanski, Kathy Philpott Costa, Kate Reich, Barbara Tesner, Christian Autor, and Paul Stoddard Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. Approval of October Minutes: The minutes for the October 21, 2015 meeting were approved. 2. Public Comments: none 3. Old Business  Discuss urban forestry program objectives & priorities for 2016: Generally, there is consensus among the TC that staffing in the Urban Forestry Division seems inadequate to properly cover responsibilities of development plan review, plan enforcement, and monitoring and maintenance of street and other public trees. Recently, the arborist became responsible for approving tree maintenance priorities, adding this to her already-existing duties of development plan review and enforcement. The TC will evaluate its overall programmatic objectives for operational improvement of the UFD. In addition, it will reevaluate its staffing budget recommendations next year, after there has been time under the new inventory program to collect data on what is being achieved in the areas of maintenance, monitoring and enforcement. 4. Current Business  Streetscape Design Standards: Kathy will distribute the Tree planting standards priority list to the TC, and before next meeting members will insert desired text and details under each category. Kathy will create a master draft document with all suggested text and bring it to the next meeting for a document working session. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703) 248-5350, option 5. TTY 711.  5. Plan Reviews  Review of W&OD Master Plan – Paul Stoddard: Paul Stoddard of the Planning Department presented the draft W&OD Park Master Plan. He noted that while NOVA Parks owns the park, it is not taking an active role in planning, so Falls Church has been talking with NOVA Parks to take the lead in planning and maintaining the space. TC Commission members expressed general appreciation for the Plan’s emphasis on trees and green space. TC members requested that more canopy trees be planned at the Walter Mess plaza and Park Avenue plaza. Due to power lines overhead, the plan calls for smaller umbrella trees on either side of the improved paths. TC members requested that larger canopy trees be included in the plan where there might be adequate space away from power lines. 6. Informational Items: no items to discuss. 7. Future Business: no items to discuss.  Tree canopy goals and strategies  Code updates/modifications relating to urban forestry  Enforcement of site plan landscape violations Staff liaison: Kate Reich, 703-248-5183 kreich@fallschurchva.gov The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call (703) 248-5350, option 5. TTY 711.