Tree Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE TREE BOARD City Operations Center - 305 Williams Street Hendersonville, NC 28791 Tuesday, June 18, 2024 – 2:00 PM MINUTES MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: JANET THEW, MARY DAVIS, BECCA DOLL, NATALIE WILCOXSEN, MELODY CRAWFORD, AND GLENN LANGE MEMBER NOT IN ATTENDANCE: SCOTT HARMON 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to Approve: Becca D. Second: Mary D. Motion Approved 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of Minutes - May 21,2024 Motion to Approve: Becca D. Second: Mary D. Motion Approved 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Welcome New Members! TREE BOARD – June 18, 2024 Page | 1  B. Public Relations Report - Mary Jo Padgett REPORT TO: Hendersonville Tree Board FROM: Mary Jo Padgett, PR Consultant RE: Publicity Report for June Board meeting DATE: June 18, 2024 Publicity/ events since last board meeting -- . Pollinator Walk to Celebrate Pollinator Week – Due to construction along parts of the new Pollinator Trail, a re- designed guided walk occurred on Sat., June 15. I worked with walk leader Mark Stierwalt and sent PR to media. A dozen attendees showed up and Mark did a great job. The Tree Board received the news release earlier. First edition of quarterly newsletter – I created a brief newsletter to announce the Pollinator Walk, request applications to fill vacancies on the Tree Board, and give a heads-up on NeighborWoods participation – which was sent to the Tree Board as well as an existing list of previous event attendees and volunteers. I will send the next edition in late summer to focus on NeighborWoods, upcoming events, etc. Upcoming Calendar of Events -- HENDERSONVILLE TREE BOARD CALENDAR 2024 Saturday, August 17, Maple Street Farmers Market. 7 a.m.-2 pm. -- ESB will have a booth at the Maple Street Farmer’s Market highlighting the symbolic monarch migration project of the Bee City USA-Hendersonville. A TB member may provide printed copies of the “landscape species list” at that time and explain the importance of Keystone Plants. Early Sept. – Guided Tree Walk. Details TBA Fall -- NeighborWoods Tree Plantings TREE BOARD – June 18, 2024 Page | 2 Tree Board members Janet Thew, Glenn Lange, and Natalie Wilcoxson will attend the Farmers Market and share space wit the ESB on Aug. 17th. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Discuss Tree Canopy Recommendations The Tree Canopy Percentage proposal to Council will centered around the 40(%) by 2040 concept. Committee members presented a rough outline for Phase I of the “to be adopted” Urban Forestry Plan to be based upon the goal of 40 by 2040. The Tree Board would like for the newly retitled “Urban Forestry Plan” to be used to achieve this goal and also be referenced in the Gen H comprehensive Plan. A motion to approve the committee’s Phase I plans was supported by the board. Motion to Approve: Glenn L. Second: Melody C. Motion was Approved B. Urban Forestry Plan The committee received an evaluation of the current plan from Urban Forester - Chris Defoire and is reformulating the Urban Forestry Plan based on the recommendations and has completed Phase One and plans to send this to Council. C. Gen H - Comprehensive Plan The Tree Board would like the Urban Forestry Plan and 2023 Tree Canopy Study mentioned in the Comprehensive Plan. Council Member Simpson will address this. D. NeighborWoods The Board decided to ramp up the NeighborWoods program and Natalie Wilcoxson, Mary Davis, and Melody Crawford will form a committee to develop the program. 6. OTHER BUSINESS A. Staff Comments The ESB has proposed a discussion of the possibility of formulating a Native Plant Policy for the City. The Board decided to support and lead the discussion but has not approved any policy. B. Public Comments: TREE BOARD – June 18, 2024 Page | 3  Rick Burt of from Dellwood Apartments off Haywood Road requested that a Tree Board Member assist him with educating the owner of the apartment complex of the benefits of trees and make him aware of the NeighborWoods Program. Bill Leatherwood – The City’s contracted Arborist, voiced his support for the Urban Forestry Plan and emphasized the benefits of having an Urban Forester on City Staff and thought the $50,000 for and annual salary would be sufficient. C. The Board Voted to adjust the Tree Board meeting time to the Second Monday of each month at 2:30. The Next Meeting will be July 8th The meetings will be held in the City Operations Center Assembly Room. Motion to Approve: Glenn L. Second: Mary D. Motion was Approved 7. ADJOURNMENT The City of Hendersonville is committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services for all people in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Should you need assistance or an accommodation for this meeting please contact the City Clerk no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting at 697-3005. TREE BOARD – June 18, 2024 Page | 4