Tree Board

Tree Board minutes 01/27/2020 Morgantown Tree Board (MTB) Minutes, meeting of January 27, 2020 City Council chambers, 4:36 PM 1. ATTENDANCE: MTB members Dan Brown, Jonathan Cumming, Matt Cummons, Dave Davis, Vaike Haas, Secretary Jon Weems, Chair Dave Barnett, Urban Landscape Director Marchetta Maupin, and City Arborist Scott Cline. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: D. Brown moved, and J. Cumming seconded, that the minutes of the August 26, 2019 meeting be approved as amended. The motion passed. J. Weems moved, and J. Cumming seconded, that the minutes of the November 12, 2019 special meeting be approved as written. The motion passed. D. Brown moved, and J. Cumming seconded, that the minutes of the December 16, 2019 meeting be approved as amended. The motion passed. J. Weems moved, and D. Barnett seconded, that the minutes of the Wednesday, January 13 special meeting with the Urban Landscape Commission (ULC) be approved as written. The motion passed. 3. REPORT FROM M. MAUPIN AND S. CLINE: S. Cline and M. Maupin discussed activities that included completion of a Tree City USA grant application, submission of a preliminary MTB budget, and the addition of many large trees to the Plan-It GEO database. M. Maupin reported contact with Pat Stewart Realty regarding that firm’s emphasis on tree planting this year. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. City Tree Ordinance. D. Barnett said he had been in touch with City Attorney Ryan Simonton to set up a meeting to go over the draft ordinance. D Barnett said he would email MTB members once a meeting was scheduled. B. White Park Update. Morgantown Utility Board (MUB)-provided maps showing the pipeline route, but not the trail, were examined. MUB Staff Engineer Cory Jones had responded to inquiries. The soil report he provided was not geared toward tree selection. V. Haas shared her list of trees in the right of way. D. Davis agreed to consider a seed list of grasses and/or herbaceous plants. C. Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Update. It was reported that Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli had met with designer Nina Chase, who agreed to consider MTB suggestions including substitutions for the yellow-poplars, and planting trees in a more staggered, irregular manner at the end toward Decker’s Creek. There was no word on the inadequately small tree pits or the problematic blackgums on a steep, narrow lawn between a roadway and a walkway. 5. NEW BUSINESS: A. Airport Trees. Hart Field (Morgantown Airport) Director Jonathon Vrabel had met with the ULC concerning trees that prevent the airport from complying with FAA regulations. The need for a new airport master landscape plan was discussed, along with a likely MTB meeting at the airport, weather permitting.  Tree Board minutes 01/27/2020 6. OPEN DISCUSSION: A. Power Line Right of Way Maintenance. M. Cummons noted that contractor Asplundh would be working in the northern half of Morgantown, and adjacent areas, in 2020 to prune trees away from Mon Power overhead lines. B. Bike Trail Planning. A grant was mentioned. C. Community Forest Open Space Plan. The ULC had reportedly requested funds for such a plan. 7. NEXT MEETING: February 24, 2020, time and location to be announced. 8. ADJOURN: D. Brown moved, and J. Weems seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried at 5:48 PM. Respectfully submitted, ______________________ Jon Weems, Secretary