Tree Board

Tree Board minutes 05/02/2020 Morgantown Tree Board (MTB) Minutes, meeting of May 2, 2020 Via conference call, 4:30 PM 1. ATTENDANCE: MTB members Dan Brown, Matt Cummons, Donna Marie Foster, Secretary Jon Weems, Chair Dave Barnett, contract arborist David Mitchell, City Council member Jennie Selin, City Attorney Ryan Simonton, and Urban Landscape Director Marchetta Maupin. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: D. Brown moved, and D. Foster seconded, that the minutes of the January 27, 2020 meeting be approved as amended. The motion passed. 3. REPORT FROM M. MAUPIN: (City Arborist Scott Cline was on catastrophic leave) Rather than provide the usual overview, M. Maupin merged her report into agenda items so the meeting could begin with item 4.A. below. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. City Tree Ordinance. R. Simonton led MTB members through the draft of the proposed new City Tree Ordinance. Consensus was reached on sticking points. There were no formal motions. R. Simonton said he would incorporate agreed-upon changes and provide the new draft to D. Barnett for MTB review. B. White Park Update. D. Mitchell reported pipeline installation through White Park had been completed, though tunneling under South University Boulevard continued. Compliance with mitigation procedures had generally been good, but conditions very wet during construction. Discussion included tree planting to be funded by the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) and new trail construction. C. Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Update. M. Maupin reported a satisfactory walk- through with contractor March-Westin. D. Foster and others expressed hope than any money left in the project’s tree mitigation budget could be used for needed pruning after completion of construction. 5. NEW BUSINESS: A. Spruce Street pocket park. It was noted that a very small “pocket park” was being developed adjacent to the Farmers Market. 6. OPEN DISCUSSION: M. Maupin reported on a few items that normally would have been part of item 3, above. Tree City USA and Demonstration City grants had been approved, D. Mitchell had pruned trees on High Street, and Walnut St. Bradford pears had been removed. 7. NEXT MEETING: May 18, 2020, 4:30, probably by conference call. 8. ADJOURN: D. Brown moved, and D. Foster seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried at 5:52 PM. Respectfully submitted, ______________________ Jon Weems, Secretary