Tree Board Meeting
Regular MeetingNorman, OK · November 6, 2017
Minutes
TREE BOARD
November 6, 2017
The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session
Room on the 6th day of November 2017 at 4:00 P.M.
ITEM 1, being:
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida,
and Spain
Absent: Commissioners Guistozzi and Winegardner
City Officials
Present: James Briggs, City of Norman Park Planner
Karla Chapman, Administrative Technician IV
ITEM 2, being:
APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 2, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Lavastida seconded to approve the minutes.
The vote was taken with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida,
and Spain
NAY: None
ITEM 3, being:
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Spain seconded to approve the agenda. The
vote was taken with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida,
and Spain
NAY: None
Tree Board
Page 2 of 3
November 6, 2017
ITEM 4, being:
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Chairman Menzie asked Staff to look at previously submitted “tree tips” and place on the City website.
He said he recently gave a presentation to the Master Gardeners and impressed on the group how much
the City needs a Forester. At that meeting, suggestions were made to contact the City and/or
Councilmembers.
Chairman Menzie said the Norman Holiday Parade is Saturday, December 9th at 5:00 p.m. He said the
theme is “Christmas in Lights,” and said the Tree Board will have a float in the parade. Chairman
Menzie said he would provide the trailer and generator and welcomed any suggestions regarding
decorating the float.
ITEM 5, being
TREE STORY CONTEST
Chairman Menzie said he has received 4–6 Tree Story Contest entries from Reagan Elementary. He said
usually students from Lincoln Elementary submit entries and is hopeful this year will be no different.
Commissioner Fagin said he sent material to Norman Public School (NPS) to go into the Thursday
Folders and thanked Commissioner Huffman for making and getting all the copies organized for him.
Chairman Menzie said the Tree Story Contest began on October 16th and will end on November 17, 2017.
He said he will pick out the top 5-10 submissions and bring them to the December meeting so the full
Tree Board can chose 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. The Tree Board discussed and felt it would be a good idea to
give the awards to the winners at a school assembly. Chairman Menzie said Mariah Menzie could put on
the “tree” costume and help hand the awards out before the Christmas Break. Commissioner Janaway
suggested giving participation awards to everyone who participated.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
ITEM 6, being:
MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS
Chairman Menzie requested Commissioner Janaway to give an update on the Re-Leaf Berry Road project.
Commissioner Janaway said approximately ten (10) locations, between Dakota Street and Iowa Street,
have been located where 10 trees can be planted. He said he has been working with Commissioner Spain
on drafting a letter for the homeowners who will sign an agreement to care for the tree, accept the tree(s),
and place a sign in their yard proclaiming they were part of the ReLeaf Berry Road Project.
Commissioner Janaway said he met with the Park Foundation a couple of weeks ago to discuss funding.
He said OKIE locates will be done in the area after sending letters out to the property owners to
determine whether or not they would like a tree.
Commissioner Janaway said the tree staging area will be at Berry Road Baptist Church located at 500 N.
Berry Road and will include not only trees but wood chips as well. He said there are many underground
utility lines in the area; therefore, all the trees being planted will need to be hand dug. Commissioner
Spain asked whether any local nurseries would donate trees and Commissioner Janaway said he has
talked to Marcum’s Nursery and felt they would give good prices.
Tree Board
Page 3 of 3
November 6, 2017
Commissioner Huffman distributed a Tree Canopy brochure from the City of Edmond reflecting their
percentage of tree canopy. He asked Commissioner Fagin whether or not he could create a similar type
graphic for the City of Norman and Commission Fagin said he would look at doing so in the near future.
Chairman Menzie said the next meeting is scheduled for December 4th. He said the first Monday in
January is New Year’s Day and the Board discussed and agreed the January meeting should be cancelled.
ITEM 7, being:
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Huffman made the motion and Commissioner Janaway seconded to adjourn. The vote was
taken with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida,
and Spain
NAY: None
Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2017
Don Menzie, Chairperson
Agenda
NORMAN TREE BOARD
ATTENDANCE RECORD
2017
NAME
APPOINTMENT JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JUNE AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
DATE 5 26
TODD FAGIN
1-13-15 X X X X X X X X X
5-14-18
SUSAN GRISSO
5-22-12 X X X
5-14-18
EMILIE GUISTOZZI
X X X
GREGORY HUFFMAN
6-12-07 X X X X X X X
5-14-19
DARRELL JANAWAY
6-14-16 X X X X X X X X
5-14-19
VICKI LAVASTIDA
X X X X X X
DON MENZIE
5-26-09 X X X X X X X X X
5-14-18
WILL SPAIN
6-23-16 X X X X X X
5-14-17
DUANE WINEGARDNER
2-08-11 X X X X X X X X
5-14-17
Norman Tree Board
Regular Meeting
November 6, 2017
Executive Conference Room
201 W. Gray Street
Norman, Oklahoma
4:00 p.m.
1. ITEM: ROLL CALL
2. ITEM: APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 2, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
ACTION NEEDED: Motion to approve or reject the minutes.
ACTION TAKEN:
3. ITEM: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
ACTION NEEDED: Motion to approve or reject the agenda.
ACTION TAKEN:
4. ITEM: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
ACTION NEEDED: Acknowledge presentation.
ACTION TAKEN:
5. ITEM: TREE STORY CONTEST
ACTION NEEDED: Acknowledge presentation.
ACTION TAKEN:
6. ITEM: MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS
ACTION NEEDED: Acknowledge presentation.
ACTION TAKEN:
7. ITEM: ADJOURNMENT
TREE BOARD
October 2, 2017
The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session Room on the
2nd day of October 2017 at 4:00 P.M.
ITEM 1, being:
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, and
Winegardner
Absent: Commissioners Grisso, Guistozzi, and Spain
City Officials
Present: James Briggs, City of Norman Park Planner
Karla Chapman, Administrative Technician IV
ITEM 2, being:
APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner Winegardner made the motion and Commissioner Huffman seconded to approve the minutes. The
vote was taken with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, and
Winegardner
NAY: None
ITEM 3, being:
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Commissioner Fagin made the motion and Commissioner Winegardner seconded to approve the agenda. The vote
was taken with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, and
Winegardner
NAY: None
ITEM 4, being:
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Commissioner Fagin said he will not be able to attend the 2nd Friday Art Walk scheduled October 6th, because he
will be out of town. He said the Tree Board may not have a booth at the 2nd Friday Art Walk again until the Spring,
depending on weather and available indoor booth space.
Tree Board
Page 2 of 3
October 2, 2017
ITEM 5, being
TREE STORY CONTEST
Chairman Menzie said the Tree Board will begin taking submissions on October 16th for the Tree Story Contest and
the contest will end on November 17, 2017. He said the contest is open to all 4th and 5th graders and submissions
will be judged by the Norman Tree Board based on creativity, originality, and observation skills. Commissioner
Fagin received approval from Norman Public Schools to put flyers in the Thursday folders and said he would get the
flyers to NPS to distribute in the October 19th Thursday Folders. Chairman Menzie said he and Miriah Menzie will
speak to classes to try and stir up some enthusiasm and Commissioner Lavastida said she would be happy to speak
to classes as well.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ITEM 6, being:
CONTINUED DISCUSSION REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO ORDINANCE
O-1112-19, CHAPTER 1, LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS
Chairman Menzie asked the Board whether or not changes or additions should be made to the current Landscape
Requirements, or if they would rather work/educate citizens to plant, preserve, and replant trees. The Board
discussed and Commissioner Huffman said maybe the City does not need a more stringent ordinance at this time.
Commissioner Huffman felt the emphasis could be on educating the public using the City of Edmond’s focus on
reforestation. James Briggs, Park Planner felt an educational program would be better at this time and the Tree
Board could advocate for a City Forester as well. Commissioner Janaway felt Code Enforcement should enforce any
ordinance requirements rather than Parks and Recreation Staff because Code Enforcement already enforces tree
stumps and dead trees. The Tree Board agreed education would be best at this point, with the biggest factor being
that the City does not currently have a City Forester on staff to enforce any proposed requirements. Commissioner
Janaway said the need to explore other cities and their programs is needed before recommending a proposed
ordinance. Chairman Menzie asked Staff to take this item off the agenda next month and the Tree Board will
concentrate on the ReLeaf Berry Road and Foster a Tree Programs.
Commissioner Janaway updated the proposed “ReLeaf Berry Road,” and said ten (10) locations, between Dakota
Street and Iowa Street, have been located where 10 trees can be planted. He said he has been working with
Commissioner Spain on drafting a letter for the homeowners who will sign an agreement to care for the tree, accept
the tree(s), and place a sign in there yard proclaiming they were part of the ReLeaf Berry Road Project.
Commissioner Janaway said Angelo Lombardo, City Traffic Engineer, provided him a site triangle of the area and
said some trees cannot be planted in the public rights-of-way (ROW) due to site triangles; however, the trees needed
to be planted. Mr. Briggs explained that City funds cannot be used to plant trees behind the public easement on
private property.
Commissioner Janaway felt the Park Foundation could buy some trees to get the program started and he said he
already spoke to the Rotary Club about applying for a grant for the ReLeaf Berry Road Project. He said the Parks
Board could make application with the Rotary Group to purchase $20 5-gallon trees from Marcum’s Nursery.
Commissioner Janaway felt if ReLeaf Berry Road is successful, the program could be extended to other arterial
roads/streets further north. Commissioner Huffman asked whether funds from the Neighborwoods Program could
be used and Staff said yes. Commissioner Lavastida suggested partnering with the group “Save Norman Trees” for
funding and/or fundraising.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Item 7, being:
MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 6th at 4:00 p.m.
Tree Board
Page 3 of 3
October 2, 2017
ITEM 8, being:
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Winegardner made the motion and Commissioner Huffman seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken
with the following results:
YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Commissioners Fagin, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, and
Winegardner
NAY: None
Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2017
Don Menzie, Chairperson
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