Tree Board Meeting

TREE BOARD November 4, 2019 The Tree Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Study Session Room on the 4th day of November 2019, at 4:06 P.M. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland Absent: Member Winegardner City Officials: James Briggs, Park Planner Tim Vermillion, City Forester Karla Sitton, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 7, 2019 MEETING MINUTES Member Huffman made the motion and Member Fagin seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland NAY: None ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Member Huffman made the motion and Member Fagin seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland NAY: None ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. James Briggs, Park Planner, introduced Mr. Tim Vermillion, City Forester, to the Board. He said he has handed over several issues and hazardous tree calls to Mr. Vermillion that been coming through the Park and Recreation Department. Mr. Vermillion said he was glad to be back at the City of Norman, i.e., he was the City Forester approximately 12-14 years ago but left to pursue another job career. Member Fagin said he did not make it to the October Second Friday Art Walk and asked the Board if anyone was interested in going to the Second Friday Art Walk this Friday, November 8, 2019. He said he would set up a booth and any of the Members could show up. Tree Board Page 2 of 3 November 4, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Member Fagin said he will set up at the 2nd Friday Art Walk, weather permitting, and suggested passing out information on the Tree Board Ordinance. Member Spain said he is working on the brochure and will get it ready. Member Janaway highlighted the ReLeaf Berry Road Project to Mr. Tim Vermillion, City Forester, stating a couple of years ago OEC removed some trees along Berry Road and the Board began this project to replant the tree(s). He said Board Members begin knocking door to door asking if residents would like a new tree planted at no charge due to an Apache Tree Grant that was obtained. Member Janaway said most of the area is rental homes which made it more difficult to obtain home owner’s permission; however, several trees were planted. Member Janaway said trees still need to be planted on Berry Road north toward Robinson Street and suggested contacting home owner’s in that area. Mr. Vermillion said he can research and find the home owner’s names/contact numbers. Member Tedder-Loffland said there are no overhead electrical lines on Berry Road from Denison to Robinson Street. Mr. Vermillion said he has visited with Suzanne Terry, Park Foundation, about funding tree projects. He said he will continue to research areas to determine where to plant trees. Chair Menzie said we need to be careful not to plant trees in the sight lines. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 5, being: ANNUAL TREE STORY CONTEST Chair Menzie said he has not received any Tree Story entries yet, but the deadline is not until November 15, 2019. Member Fagin said he will resubmit the Tree Story Contest flyer to Peach Jar (online bulletin board for Norman Public School) in the next few days. Chair Menzie asked whether a ranking system would be helpful in choosing the winners and the Board said yes. The Board discussed and determined the following criteria would be ranked 0 to 5, five being the best, for the following: 1. Creativity and Originality 2. Requirements Met 3. Description/Environmental 4. Entertaining 5. Readability and Cohesion Chair Menzie said he would get all the Tree Story entries received to Staff and Staff will send the stories to the Board via email. He requested the Board read over the Tree Stories and have them ranked for the December 2, 2019 meeting. Chair Menzie said his daughter will dress up in a Tree Costume and help deliver the prizes to the winners before Christmas Break. ITEM 6, being: MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS Mr. Tim Vermillion, Forester, said a few years ago the Norman Park Foundation had an annual City of Norman Tree Photo Contest and suggested bringing it back. He said citizens can take and submit their favorite tree photo and win monetary prizes. The Board discussed and said next Spring or Summer would be a good time to start the contest. Member Lavastida asked whether anyone has applied for a Historic Tree Designation, stating those trees would be great photos for the contest, but Staff said no one has applied for a Historic Tree Designation yet. Member Huffman said he would contact the Park Foundation to see how they ran the Tree Photo Contest. Tree Board Page 3 of 3 November 4, 2019 Mr. Vermillion said he will continue to look for areas lacking trees and approach homeowners to see if they are interested in a tree. He said he can deliver and even plant the tree for them. Chair Menzie asked the Board if they were interested in being in the Norman Christmas Parade scheduled December 14, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. This year’s theme is “Making Spirits Bright” and applications are due by November 27, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. The Board discussed, agreed to get registered for the Christmas Parade, and talk more about it at the December meeting. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 7, being: ADJOURNMENT Member Tedder-Loffland made the motion and Member Huffman seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Menzie and Members Fagin, Grisso, Huffman, Janaway, Lavastida, Spain, and Tedder-Loffland NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2019 Don Menzie, Chairperson