Tree Board Regular Meeting

Minutes TREE BOARD Regular meeting 9 a.m. Oct. 16, 2024 Board Meeting Room of Town Hall Annex, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Tim Logue (acting Chair), Brian Mayell, Greg Yavelak and Mixon Nelson Absent: Chair Linda Paynter and Vice Chair Thomas Darling Staff: Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood 1. Call to order, roll call and confirmation of quorum Acting Chair Tim Logue called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the absence of a quorum. 2. Agenda changes and approval The agenda stood as presented. No action was taken. 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on Sept. 18, 2024 Motion: Member Brian Mayell moved approval of the Sept. 18, 2024, minutes as submitted. Member Greg Yavelak seconded. Vote: 4-0 4. Discussion items A. Continue discussing tree plantings for Skate Spot Trueblood described the location, the Cates Creek Master Plan and introduced Stormwater Technician Claire Hansen. The board discussed environmental factors for the plants at the site. Member Mixon Nelson suggested gray owl junipers, red cedars, swamp chestnut oaks, river birch, white oaks, sedges and rushes to create ribbons of less mowed areas around tree sections. Trueblood introduced Tammy Dorfman president of the Hillsborough Garden Club and prospective tree board member. Yavelak arrived at 9:28 a.m. Board members discussed planting near the parking lot first and a shaded bench along the sidewalk to the Skate Spot. The board developed consensus to direct staff to work with Nelson to develop a planting plan for Skate Spot. B. Arbor Day 2024 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov TREE BOARD MINUTES | 1 of 2  TREE BOARD MINUTES | 2 of 2 The board discussed options to celebrate Arbor Day. Logue and Mayell offered to celebrate Arbor Day with a walk and talk about riparian restoration and invasive species removal at Riverwalk. Trueblood stated the town will issue a press release for the event. Motion: Nelson moved to celebrate Arbor Day on Nov. 20, 2024, with a guided tour of the riparian restoration and invasive removal project on Riverwalk. Mayell seconded. Vote: 4-0 C. Continue discussion of Prohibited and Recommended Plant List The board decided to add the list’s discussion to the Jan. 2024, Tree Board agenda. 5. Updates A. Garden Club The club president shared club events. Dorfman expressed an increase in native plantings by the club. The club will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025 with a myriad of events. Also, Hillsborough Garden Club fundraising supports scholarships and grants among other philanthropic ventures. B. Invasive Removal Team Mayell suggested preordering for 2025 plantings with Mellow Marsh to ensure products. Nelson advocated for removing top layer of potting soil from nursery plants to mitigate weeds. Also, invasive removal workdays will move to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. C. Staff Trueblood reported: • Planters have been replanted and downtown gardens replenished. • The town board approved the amended Ridgewalk plan. 6. Adjournment Motion: Mayell motioned to adjourn. Yavelak seconded. Vote: 4-0. Logue adjourned the meeting at 10:03 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Stephanie Trueblood Public Space and Sustainability Manager Staff support to the Tree Board Approved: Jan. 15, 2025