Tree Board

MTB 2/5/14 1 Morgantown Tree Board (MTB) Minutes, regular meeting of February 5, 2014 Present: MTB members Katherine Payne, Dan Brown, Dave Barnett, Greg Dahle, Secretary Jon Weems, and Chair Kara Hurst, city employees Marchetta Maupin and Damien Davis, City Manager Jeff Mikorski, and guests Ann Payne and Alice Meehan. The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:34 PM in City Council chambers and noted that a quorum was present. K. Payne moved and D. Brown seconded that the December minutes be approved as drafted. The motion carried unanimously. New Business 1. Year of the Tree (YOTT). A. Payne and A. Meehan, YOTT representatives, asked MTB to select winners of the “biggest, baddest tree” competition from among 19 nominees. 10 certificates would be printed, with 5 or so awarded in various categories, perhaps including most popular, most ecologically beneficial, largest, most historic, honorable mention, and others. G. Dahle said he knows of a tree benefit calculator that will help. A. Payne urged continued efforts to improve care and appreciation of trees, possibly including a tree care education program. MTB thanked the YOTT representatives, who then left the meeting. 2. City Manager’s Report. J. Mikorski indicated the city’s budget would include an unspecified amount of money for street tree contract work and Arbor Day. Discussion revolved around Treekeeper software and alternatives for tree inventory management. The consensus was to pursue less costly alternatives and update the tree inventory done by the USDA Forest Service. Mr. Mikorski reminded MTB that he will continue to seek funds for tree work but he will continue to rely on MTB to decide which trees need what work. He indicated some High Street tree curbs would be removed, and the Walnut streetscape plan would soon be available for public input. Power lines limit tree planting on one side of the street, but 2 or 3 bump-outs may be possible. He suggested the Sunnyside streetscape project may not include much money for landscaping. Plans should be available in a few months. MTB indicated some species were planted in inappropriate locations on Grant Ave. Mr. Mikorski agreed and said that would not be repeated on McLane. He reported that he would be applying for Tree City USA status within a week. MTB thanked Mr. Mikorski and Mr. Davis, who then left the meeting. Old Business 1. Tree Maintenance Contract Work. D. Barnett will seek bids on Demonstration City grant pruning of High Street trees, all less than 30 feet tall. He will contact Ken Beezley, Bartlett, and perhaps another ISA-certified arborist. 2. Tree Inventory. M. Maupin has been providing updates and lists of trees needing work. This should be integrated with the 2011 inventory. In addition to the city trees on her latest list, there are 4 BOPARC trees that the MTB needs to talk with BOPARC about. The city Street Department has removed many of the trees on the 2011 inventory. 3. South University Park. All landscaping plans are on hold pending resolution of the power plant proposal.  MTB 2/5/14 2 4. Walnut & Pleasant St. Trees. MTB indicated approval, without a motion, of the work discussed during the walkabout of December 16, 2013. 5. Aspen St. Trees. 6 trees on Aspen in bad shape are city trees. Silver maples in the area are on private property. Possible replacements for the city trees include ginkgo cultivars Princeton Sentry, Saratoga, and Autumn Gold. 6. Memorial/Gift Policy. K. Hurst distributed copies of the city’s gift and memorial policy, adopted 10/5/04. D. Brown moved, and G. Dahle seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 PM. __________________________________ Jon Weems