Tree Advisory Board

CITY OF MOUNT VERNON One Roosevelt Square Mount Vernon, NY 10550 (914) 665-2352 · FAX (914) 668-6044 Tree Advisory Board (TAB) MEETING MINUTES December 02, 2021, 4pm A REGULAR MEETING of the Tree Advisory Board was held on Thursday, December 02, 2021, 4:05pm via Zoom. Attendance: Voting members: Eveline Feldmann/Chair • Marlene H. Wertheim/Vice Chair • Vincent DeVito • Henry May • Marlon Molina. Others: Jennifer Mastrogiorgio • Tanesia Walters. Guest: DPW Commissioner Damani Bush This was the first meeting to be livestreamed. The Chair announced that it would be shorter than usual, 45 minutes. AGENDA Approval of Minutes of Nov. 4 and Nov. 18. They were approved with no additional comments. Marlene briefly recapped the minutes procedure from here on. The video will be reviewed. More abbreviated minutes will be written following the agreed-upon template. The minutes and the next meeting’s agenda will be forwarded beforehand by the Chair to all TAB members, plus the tech asst., legal adviser and Deputy City Clerk, with the request for any comments. At the next meeting the comments will be noted and final changes will be requested. Any revisions will be incorporated into the minutes, which will then be voted on. Reports: -Technology and workflow All have received the new link which, was posted successfully on the City website, is allowing today’s livestream. Marlene requested that in the future the Chair be advised in advance of these changes so that she can understand them and ask questions, since the ultimate responsibility for the functioning of the TAB rests with her. - Arbor Day Foundation: Environmental Justice Initiative The Mount Vernon proposal was not among the recipients. It would be good for us to review and learn from those that were. We noted Bronx in Flower was among them. - Arbor Day Foundation: Tree City USA renewal and Growth Award Application 2021 This the first time the board is completing it. We’ll be more than prepared before the 12/31/21 deadline. The required material and documents have been uploaded – Tree Ordinance, Arbor Day Proclamation, fine photos from the Arbor Day/First Community Tree Planting event. Thanks to Jen for the latter. What remains will be provided by DPW – tree activity, costs, tree counts. A Tree Growth Award is another benefit of our association with the Arbor Day Foundation. Awards are based on points; ten needed for an award. We already qualify for one based on the collaboration to establish the TAB. Some are granted only once, others 1x/year or 5x/year. Examples to qualify – “building the team”, “measuring trees & forests”, “planning the work”, “performing the work”, “the community framework”. The Chair will email the Tree Growth Award list of qualifying activities to the regular TAB attendees. The Chair expressed the desire for us to order Tree City USA signs to post at major road entry points of the city. Jen stated that finding a vendor won’t be a problem but identifying the funding source would be. Marlon offered that he may know where there is funding. Eveline will inquire what Arbor Day Foundation offers/sells. Tree Advisory Board (TAB) Meeting Minutes 12/02/21 Unfinished Business: TAB/Tree Ordinance presentations The Chair pointed to the importance of understanding our objectives in meeting with the Building, Planning Depts., DPW, plus the Planning and Architectural Review Boards. We want them to become familiar with the Tree Ordinance (TO). We, in turn, need to comprehend the functioning of these groups so that we can together determine how the addition of a TO and its focus can be best incorporated into their operations, and enacted. The process is just beginning. She clarified that the 3 summary sheets are not the presentation but supporting material for us to follow as we plan for it. They are basic summaries of what is stated in the TO and Rules of Procedure, nothing new, but useful as we go along and have these meetings. Until we pick up this conversation again soon, read them over, along with the checklist for the land use boards. Marlon referred to some questions he had and indicated that he had informed the Planning Dept. that the TAB will be addressing the land use boards. Tree Updates from our Arborist Commissioner Bush joined Vinny in sharing the progress made thus far regarding the Storm Preventative Maintenance Program. Vinny sees it as a successful collaboration between him and the Commissioner. He praised the Commissioner for putting it into motion and giving Vinny the tools he needs to continue with this “well-oiled machine” that has proven more productive than he could have imagined in its only 3 weeks of operation. Seventy-five trees have been trimmed. This has reduced the storm rate in the 2 sections worked on by 25%. They were South 5th and MacQuesten Pkwy/West Ave/Birch St./near the Bronx line. Identified have been 4 blocks for tree planting and 3 dead trees for removal. Residents on Collins Ave. have complimented DPW for addressing this long-over-due concern. Vinny concluded that the Dept. will be putting out literature as sections are targeted for the work. “We won’t stop until all the work is done!” The Commissioner thanked Vinny for spearheading and getting the project going. The data collection and tree asset management work will help the city to get grants. He still wants to do more to make the public aware and plans to publish the weekly schedule. Vinny, when replanting, wants to go back to hardwood trees, to put back sycamores and oaks where they were before. The Chair noted added benefit in maintaining unique neighborhood characters. Vinny noted that Con Edison put forth a program to help homeowners deal with trees on their property that are interfering with electrical wires. New Business and Announcements This year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Monday, 12/6, will use an artificial tree. He and the Commissioner will be conferring about next year and placing a substantial evergreen in a prominent spot in front of City Hall. “It will add character to the city and bring people together.” They’ll be talking about this in the spring. It will involve construction, installing electricity lines. Henry brought some history into his appeal that the pavilion not be altered as it was repaved to make way for concerts and other community events. An alternate plan can be considered, re Vinny – by the bus stop where there is a stump that will soon be grounded down, since a new grinder will be coming in soon. The Chair added that the TAB can help with a ceremony and seeking out potential tree donors. Vinny noted that a new vendor has been added to his list – Baldwin Farms. They just donated to MV 30 Christmas trees and some wreaths for holiday giveaways. Although he doesn’t live in Mount Vernon, he sleeps and breathes this city, he said. Jen concurred wholeheartedly. He yearns for more involvement in the city. And, he added, the Commissioner works hard to do his part to that end. Henry reminded us of utilizing the Tree Escrow Acct., which has not been a subject for discussion yet. Next meeting will be on Thurs., 12/16, possibly in person in the Conference Room, a holiday celebration. Adjournment The meeting concluded at 4:50 p.m. The video of this meeting is accessible at https://fb.watch/alGEMvRsv6/ January 6th, 2022 Eveline Feldmann, Chair Date of Approval 2