Public Services Committee Meeting

Note: The Minutes are considered “DRAFT” until approved at the next scheduled meeting. MINUTES Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Public Services Committee 6:05 PM Carnegie Town Hall 235 West 10th Street Members Present: Council Member Kenny Anderson Jr., Council Member Michelle Erpenbach, Council Member Dean Karsky, and Council Member Sue Aguilar Members Absent: None Staff Present: Tamara Jorgensen, CMC, Assistant City Clerk; David Bixler, Budget Analyst; and Jim David, Legislative/Operations Manager 1. Call To Order Committee Chair Kenny Anderson Jr. called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. 2. Review and approval of Minutes dated October 9, 2012 A motion was made by Council Member Sue Aguilar and seconded by Council Member Michelle Erpenbach to approve the minutes. Anderson Jr. called for a voice vote and all members present voted yes. Motion Passed. Anderson Jr. read from a press release informing the public that due to technical failures the Public Service Committee Meeting would not be available for viewing via web streaming at this time. The meetings are available for viewing on CityLink. 3. Project Trim by Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation; and Duane Stall, Forestry Supervisor Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation gave opening remarks about the Project TRIM program. Kelby Mieras, Parks Operation Manager, discussed the information regarding Project TRIM including the history, background, and timeline of the program. Mieras stated that one-fifth of the City is reviewed every year. Letters that have been sent to the homeowners have resulted in 96% compliance with the ordinance requirements for tree trimming. Aguilar asked why the letters that are sent to the citizens are not more specific about which trees need to be trimmed. Mieras responded by giving a breakdown of the process  used for reviewing the neighborhood surveys, the amount of time they have for the inspections, and the follow up procedures used after the areas are re-inspected. Duane Stall, Forestry Supervisor, provided additional information regarding the letter that is sent to the citizens and the follow up “blue note” that is put in the property owner doors after the follow up inspection is done and additional trimming is needed. Discussion was held regarding the amount of manpower and hours used to inspect the trees each year. Mieras stated it is 960 hours/year for the inspection process. Discussion was held regarding the types of trees that are allowed in the boulevards. Mieras stated this information is provided on the website (shown below). This website also provides brochures which provide the following information: a street tree guide (the types of trees you can plant); a guide to trimming street trees, the street tree maintenance program; and area surveys/map. The map illustrates the year and section of the city that is going to be inspected. http://www.siouxfalls.org/parks/forestry/project-trim.aspx After additional discussion, the Committee decided to review this topic again at the Public Services Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, 2013. The Committee would like to review the information provided on the initial letter to the citizen and the follow-up 'blue note' that is left in the door after the re-inspection. 4. Open Discussion There was none. 5. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Michelle Erpenbach and seconded by Council Member Dean Karsky to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Anderson Jr. took a voice vote and all members present voted yes. Motion Passed. Tamara Jorgensen, CMC Assistant City Clerk