Tree Board Regular Meeting

Minutes TREE BOARD Regular meeting 9 a.m. Sept. 18, 2024 Board Meeting Room of Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Chair Linda Paynter, Vice Chair Thomas Darling, Brian Mayell, Tim Logue, Mixon Nelson and Gregory Yavelak Staff: Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood 1. Call to order, roll call and confirmation of quorum Chair Linda Paynter called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. Trueblood noted that Member Jon Simpson resigned. 2. Agenda changes and approval There were no changes to the agenda. Motion: Member Tim Logue moved to approve the minutes unchanged. Paynter seconded. Vote: 6-0 3. Minutes review and approval Logue noted that item 5b from the Aug. 21, 2024, minutes should state “... the owners of the Bellevue Mill have not granted access..." Motion: Member Thomas Darling moved approval with the proposed change of the Aug. 21, 2024, minutes. Member Greg Yavelak seconded. Vote: 6-0 4. Discussion items A. Review proposal from Gold Park Football Club to donate trees to plant in Gold Park Trueblood explained the Gold Park Football Club’s proposed planting of a tree in Gold Park and discussed the Tree Board’s role in maintaining it. Member Brian Mayell suggested an oak genus and species based on the success of other oak plantings in the park and the tree’s benefit to pollinators. The board stated a dogwood would not do well at the proposed site. Member Mixon Nelson suggested a white oak tree. Motion: Logue motioned to accept the donation of planting a white oak tree to include fencing, mulch, installation and plaque with explanation that a dogwood is not appropriate for the location in Gold Park. Mayell seconded. Vote: 6-0 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov TREE BOARD MINUTES | 1 of 3  TREE BOARD MINUTES | 2 of 3 B. Continue discussion of Prohibited and Recommended Plant List The board discussed the list’s development and decided Paynter will lessen involvement in the subcommittee. Mayell referenced the Orange County Preferred Plant List as a model to help guide the town’s list for consistency regionally. Also, Trueblood stressed the need for the list to be explicit for town planner usage. The board discussed adding language into the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to prohibit developers from planting invasive species. Then, Yavelak suggested requiring developers to include scientific and common names in the UDO, and Paynter pondered requiring developers to remove invasives prior to new plantings in the UDO as well. The subcommittee decided to meet before the Oct., 2024, meeting. No action was taken. C. Discuss opportunities for plantings at Hillsborough Skate Spot (review updated Cates Creek Park Master Plan) The Cates Creek Park Master Plan was updated recently. Trueblood highlighted the Tree Board’s influence in park plantings and the Park and Recreation Board’s recommendation for the addition of a basketball court at the park. Trueblood described the need for plantings at the Hillsborough Skate Spot. Prior to the Oct., 2024, Tree Board meeting, members will visit the site and be ready with planting recommendations. Nelson left at 10:04 a.m. Darling left at 10:15 a.m. The board discussed gator bag usage and locations for new plantings at the park. No action was taken. 5. Updates A. Garden Club (See report from Garden Club) Trueblood relayed to the board events to commemorate the Garden Club’s 100th anniversary. The club also provides flowers arrangements for Meals on Wheels and heads scholarship initiatives. Trueblood will continue to receive monthly email updates from the Garden Club president. B. Invasive Removal Team Logue reported the Bellevue Mills’ new leasing officers gave permission to the team for treating Japanese knotweed. Also, additional Japanese stilt grass removal signage is along Riverwalk to encourage public participation. Logue requested a town communication informational post about stilt grass removal. C. Staff The grand opening of the Hillsborough Skate Spot is Sept. 28, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Trueblood reported on the removal of the dying sycamore tree on Churton Street by North Carolina Department of Transportation. 6. Adjournment Paynter adjourned the meeting at 10:27 a.m. Respectfully submitted,  TREE BOARD MINUTES | 3 of 3 Stephanie Trueblood Public Space and Sustainability Manager Staff support to the Tree Board Approved: Oct. 16, 2024