Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 17, 2024 ❖ 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Meeting Location: 300 Park Ave, Dogwood and Virtual Attendees UFC members: Amy Crumpton (Chair), Tim Roche, Jennifer Anderson, Stephanie Lamore City Council Liaisons: Letty Hardi (outgoing), Erin Flynn (incoming) UFC Student Representative: Lydia Sturgill City Staff Liaison: Arborist Charles Prince (cprince@fallschurchva.gov) Members of the Public: none Other guests: none 1) Call to Order: the meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Amy Crumpton 2) Roll Call: noted above 3) Remote Participation: none 3) Approval of October Minutes: the November 2023 UFC minutes https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19675/UFC-Nov-15-2023-Minutes---Draft were approved by voice vote 4) Public Comment: no public comments received. 5) Staff updates and Informational Items: a) City Council Calendar Mayor Hardi gave updates on the Quinn-Homestretch project and the “greening” of Lincoln Ave from N West to N Yucatan Streets. The city council will hold its annual retreat from 9am-2pm on February 3 to discuss priorities and workplans for 2024. The retreat will be open to the public; location is TBD. The Virginia General Assembly is in session; staff is tracking relevant bills. 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 571- 238-6306 TTY711 Newly elected council member Erin Flynn will replace Letty Hardi as liaison to the UFC. b) Council Work Plan for 2024 (https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19552/Res-2022-33-TR22-29-FY-22-23-CITY- COUNCIL-WORK-PLAN-080822?bidId=) The site plan for a new park on the Fellows property is expected soon. There will be an opportunity for the UFC to provide input for proposed green building design standards. c) Staff Updates i) Arborist and Urban Forestry Budget Budget decisions are delayed as the new council settles in. ii) Tree City USA Certification Falls Church will be certified as a Tree City again for the 46th year iii) Tree Conservation Cookbook: Essential Recipes for Tree Canopy Preservation and Enhancement in the Metropolitan Washington Region (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments makes frequent mention of sections of the Falls Church municipal code on vegetation and zoning as model language for jurisdictions drafting their own urban forestry ordinances for the first time. d) 2024 Virginia General Assembly 1. HB 47 would place restrictions on the sale of invasive plants 2. SB 316 would allow the Town of Vienna to require developers to provide specified tree canopy coverage after 10 years, vice the current 20. 6) Current Business a) Rules of Procedures https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19692/2021-UFC-Rules-of-Procedure---Final- Approved by voice vote, with correction to note meeting end time is 9:00pm. b) Election of 2024 UFC officers 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 571- 238-6306 TTY711  Amy Crumpton was re-elected as commission chair. Stephanie Lamore was re-elected as vice-chair. Jennifer Anderson was elected secretary. c) Annual Report https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19676/2023-DRAFT-Annual-Report---Activities Commission members will review the draft and provide comments to Amy. d) 2024 UFC Priorities (https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19691/Suggested-2024-Priorities) The commission selected items 1 and 3 as priorities with the potential for greatest impact. 7) Future Business a) 2024 Tree of the Year https://fallschurchva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19674/Tree-of-the-Year-list 8) Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 9:08pm. 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 571- 238-6306 TTY711