Tree Board Meeting

TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE Tree Board Meeting Wednesday June 3, 2026, 6:00 p.m. Agenda Pg 1. Call to Order …………………………………………. Chair Kantner 2. Adoption of Agenda …………………………………. Chair Kantner 3. Approval of Minutes- April 1, 2026 ...…………………. 2 Chair Kantner 4. Arbor Day April Program recap ………………………. 4 Chair Kantner 5. Arbor Day Foundation Tree give-away …….………… 6 Chair Kantner 6. Tree Board Ordinance Town Code Chapter 2 ………… 7 Tamara Mercer & Chair Kantner 7. Adjournment Tree Board - Apr 01 2026 Meeting Minutes The Tree Board regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall, 30 S. Main Street, Weaverville, N.C. 1. 0B Call to Order Tree Board Members Present: Chairman Russ Kantner, Pauline Griffith, Caleb Hudson, Inger Stallman Jorgensen, William Mobley, and Andrew Shelton. Absent: Patrice Sheehan and Gary Harmon Staff Present: Town Clerk Tamara Mercer Keith Aiken, Arborist at City of Asheville, Eleanor Mrozkowski, Weaverville resident 2. 1B Adopt or Amend Agenda Inger Stallman Jorgensen moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Carried unanimously. 6-0. 3. 2B Approval of March 4, 2026 Meeting Minutes # Bill Mobley moved to adopt the meeting minutes of March 4, 2026 as presented. # Carried unanimously. 6-0. 4. 3B Arbor Day Program Chairman Kantner stated he will prepare the tree saplings he ordered for Arbor Day for the public give- away. Keith Aiken, City of Asheville Arborist provided Weaverville with donated trees from Asheville: approximately 10 Butternut trees or Juglans cinerea, 50 Red Oak or Quercus rubra, 50 White Oak or Quercus alba, and 50 Chestnut Oak or Quercus montana. Mr. Aitken reviewed care instructions prior to planting as keep in paper sack, dark, and moist. Inger requested a chair for Jill Totman who is the storyteller in the Arbor Day Program. We will also 'cone off' some close parking spots for guest speakers. 2  Andrew requested to recuse himself from voting on the High School students' poetry submissions, as their teacher he worked directly on their projects. Russ Kantner moved to recuse Andrew Shelton from the North Buncombe High School students' poetry submissions. Carried unanimously. 5-0. The Tree Board members submitted their poetry selections for Middle School Young Artist Poetry contest for 1st Place- Adler Ramirez, 2nd Place- Quinn Carmody and 3rd Place but there was a tie for the 3rd place winners and both Maeve and Chase were chosen as the winners for 3rd place. High School Young Artist Poetry contest for 1st Place- Adrian Allen, 2nd Place- Pasley Miller and 3rd Place- Pablo Vasquez. Artwork submission winners were chosen. (Andrew to supply names) 5. 4B Other Business- Tree Board Budget Request for FY:2026-27 The Davey Group tree maintenance and canopy strategy was discussed for budget costs of $70,000 first year, $65,000 year two, $40,000 year three, $38,000 year four, and $34,000 year five budget includes priority tree removals, routine pruning, routine tree inspections, young tree training, and replacements (it was noted that these figures would be significantly less as trees are donated through various programs.) Next funding applications for the Urban and Community Forest Program is July 1st, and Asheville and Buncombe County are looking for an inter-governmental partnership for project funding through the grant process, stated Keith Aitken, to which Town Clerk Mercer stated we would seek approval if the program satisfies the Town Council's Strategic Goals for 2026-29. Russ Kantner moved that the Tree Board recommends adopting the Davey Group Tree Maintenance Strategy which supports a 5-year tree canopy maintenance plan. Carried unanimously. 6-0. 6. 5B Adjournment There being no other business and without objection, Chair Kantner adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Town Clerk 3  TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE TREE BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: June 3, 2026 SUBJECT: Arbor Day Program event recap PRESENTER: Chairman Kantner ATTACHMENTS: 1 DESCRIPTION: Arbor Day Program event discussion • Date: Thursday, April 16th • Location: Lake Louise Knoll (by the Waterwheel side) and Community Center • Time: 10:00 a.m. Discussion on program event logistics, follow-up ideas, and corrective measures, etc. 4 5 6  TOWN OF WEAVERVILLE TREE BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: June 3, 2026 SUBJECT: Weaverville Code Chapter 2 Tree Board PRESENTER: Russ Kantner & Tamara Mercer ATTACHMENTS: 2 DESCRIPTION: Tree Board member discussion Review of Chapter 2, Article IV, Division 4. Tree Board. Discussion of purpose, duties, and goals of the Tree Board. Action Plan Table with priorities and goal rankings as provided by board members. 7  ORDINANCE AMENDING WEAVERVILLE TOWN CODE CHAPTERS 2 AND 32 CONCERNING THE TREE BOARD WHEREAS, pursuant to authority granted by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-174 and as a participant in the Tree City USA program, the Weaverville Town Council wishes to reorganize and reestablish its Tree Board; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by Town Council of the Town of Weaverville, North Carolina, as follows: 1. The attached Division 4, entitled “Tree Board”, is hereby added to Article IV of Chapter 2 of the Town’s Code Ordinances. 2. That Article II of Code Chapter 32 is hereby repealed. 3. It is the intention of Town Council that the sections and paragraphs of this Ordinance are severable and if any section or paragraph of this Ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect any of the remaining paragraphs or sections of this Ordinance, since they would have been enacted by Town Council without the incorporation in this Ordinance of any such unconstitutional or invalid section or paragraph. 4. These amendments shall be effective immediately upon adoption and codified. ADOPTED THIS the 20th day of May, 2024, by a vote of 7 in favor and 0 against. _________________________________________________ PATRICK FITZSIMMONS, Mayor ATTESTED BY: APPROVED AS TO FORM: _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ TAMARA MERCER, Town Clerk JENNIFER O. JACKSON, Town Attorney 8  CHAPTER 2 – ADMINISTRATION ARTICLE IV – BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES DIVISION 4. TREE BOARD Sec. 2-171. Establishment. (a) The town council establishes a tree board of the town, which board shall consist of seven (7) regular members and up to two (2) alternate members who shall all serve at the pleasure of town council. The tree board members shall primarily consist of residents of the Town of Weaverville, with a majority of the board being residents of the Town of Weaverville. Members shall be appointed by town council. (b) Except as provided for the first tree board or a newly constituted tree board, the term of office of each member of the tree board shall be for three years. To provide for staggered terms, in appointing original members or in filling vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of existing members, town council may appoint certain members for less than three years so that the terms of all members do not expire at the same time. Vacancies occurring on the tree board shall be filled for the unexpired term only. (c) Members of the tree board shall receive no compensation for their services. (d) Any member of the tree board who is absent without good cause from three consecutive meetings of the board shall be reported to the mayor and may be removed from the board and replaced in the manner prescribed for appointments. (e) In addition to the seven members appointed to the tree board, the town manager or their designee, shall serve as an ex officio non-voting member of the board. Sec. 2-172. Records. The tree board shall keep records of its meetings and proceedings and may certify attendance of board members to the town council. Sec. 2-173. Officers. The tree board shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from its membership, who shall each serve for one year or until reelected or until their successors are elected. The town staff member to the board shall serve as secretary and provide staff support to the tree board. Sec. 2-174. Rules of procedure. The tree board may adopt appropriate rules of procedure for transaction of its business, as long as the same are not inconsistent with North Carolina law, and shall keep a record of its members’ attendance, and of its resolutions, discussions, findings and recommendations in the form of meeting minutes and, as appropriate, formal recommendations and reports. All records of the tree board shall be subject to public records law. 9 Sec. 2-175. Purpose. The tree board is intended to be a citizen led group, that works with town public officials and staff to improve the health of the urban and community forest within the municipal limits of Weaverville through tree plantings, advocacy, education, management and maintenance activities. Sec. 2-176. Duties and Limitations. The tree board shall primarily act in an advisory capacity to town council and town staff is primarily responsible for the planning, implementation, and coordination with other agencies and boards regarding projects undertaken by the board. The tree board is to be primarily focused on trees and vegetation within public street rights- of-way, town parks, and town-owned property and shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (1) To periodically review the regulations within the town’s code of ordinances related to trees and vegetation, including specifically Code Chapter 32, and make recommendations concerning revisions, additions, and/or repeal; (2) To study and make recommendations on land use regulations, such as a tree canopy or protection ordinances and other conservation minded regulation, with the goals of enhancing aesthetics, reducing urban heat islands, reducing stormwater run-off, providing wildlife habitats, lowering building energy costs, and increasing property values; (3) To seek advice, as needed, from qualified landscape architects, arborists, foresters, horticulturists, or other knowledgeable individuals; (4) To consult with certified residential and commercial arborists and foresters on an inventory of existing trees within town street rights-of-ways and on town-owned property with data collected on species, size, and general health of each tree; (5) To designate heritage trees, which are understood to be individual trees with unique value based on age, rarity, size, and/or aesthetic, botanical, ecological, or historical value, and are considered irreplaceable; (6) To organize educational programs and workshops, sponsor information booths, and develop/distribute informational materials on topics related to planting, maintenance, health, and protection of trees within the urban and community forests of Weaverville; (7) To foster communication among citizens of the town that would provide community education programs, and increased awareness of urban forestry, protection of trees, and to coordinate active measures to support tree health and growth within the town; (8) To investigate available grants, loans, or contributions from other governmental agencies, public or private corporations, or individuals, and to recommend the 10  expenditures of any proceeds toward the accomplishment of the tree board's duties and responsibilities; (9) To study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or update periodically a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas once a tree inventory has been completed. The plan is to be presented to the Town Council and its acceptance and approval constitutes the official comprehensive Town tree plan. (10) To approve voluntary planting plans on Town property or in Town street rights-of- way by private citizens or groups. (11) To submit an annual report of its activities and recommendations to town council; (12) To perform any other related duties that town council may direct, either through ordinance or action. 11 CODE CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 4. TREE BOARD STATED GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRIORITIES (1=high priority, addressed in 12 months; 2=medium priority, addressed in 24 months; 3=lower priority, addressed in 36 months; 0=proposed deletion) Recommended/ Restated Goals for FY: 2026-27 2024 2025 2026 Staff STATED GOAL NOTES Staff TB TC RESPONSIBILITY 1 1 1 To periodically review the regulations within the    town’s code of ordinances related to trees and vegetation, including specifically Code Chapter 2, and make recommendations concerning revisions, additions, and/or repeal 2 2 2 To study and make recommendations on land   use regulations, such as a tree canopy or protection ordinances and other conservation minded regulation, with the goals of enhancing aesthetics, reducing urban heat islands, reducing stormwater run-off, providing wildlife habitats, lowering building energy costs, and increasing property values 3 2 2 To seek advice, as needed, from qualified   landscape architects, arborists, foresters, horticulturists, or other knowledgeable individuals 4 3 3 To consult with certified residential and Anticipated FY2026-27   commercial arborists and foresters on an inventory of existing trees within town street rights-of-ways and on town-owned property with data collected on species, size, and general health of each tree 1 12 CODE CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 4. TREE BOARD STATED GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRIORITIES (1=high priority, addressed in 12 months; 2=medium priority, addressed in 24 months; 3=lower priority, addressed in 36 months; 0=proposed deletion) Recommended/ Restated Goals for FY: 2026-27 2024 2025 2026 Staff STATED GOAL NOTES Staff TB TC 5 3 3 3 To designate heritage trees, which are    understood to be individual trees with unique value based on age, rarity, size, and/or aesthetic, botanical, ecological, or historical value, and are considered irreplaceable 6 1 1 1 To organize educational programs and    workshops, sponsor information booths, and develop/distribute informational materials on topics related to planting, maintenance, health, and protection of trees within the urban and community forests of Weaverville 7 1 1 1 To foster communication among citizens of the    town that would provide community education programs, and increased awareness of urban forestry, protection of trees, and to coordinate active measures to support tree health and growth within the town 8 2 2 To investigate available grants, loans, or   contributions from other governmental agencies, public or private corporations, or individuals, and to recommend the expenditures of any proceeds toward the accomplishment of the tree board's duties and responsibilities 9 3 3 To study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or    update periodically a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas 2 13 CODE CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 4. TREE BOARD STATED GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRIORITIES (1=high priority, addressed in 12 months; 2=medium priority, addressed in 24 months; 3=lower priority, addressed in 36 months; 0=proposed deletion) Recommended/ Restated Goals for FY: 2026-27 2024 2025 2026 Staff STATED GOAL NOTES Staff TB TC once a tree inventory has been completed. The plan is to be presented to the Town Council and its acceptance and approval constitutes the official comprehensive Town tree plan 10 3 2 To approve voluntary planting plans on Town   property or in Town street rights-of-way by private citizens or groups 11 1 1 1 1 To submit an annual report of its activities and   recommendations to Town Council 12 0 2 To perform any other related duties that Town   Council may direct, either through ordinance or action 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 COMPLETED 3 14 CODE CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE IV, DIVISION 4. TREE BOARD STATED GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PRIORITIES (1=high priority, addressed in 12 months; 2=medium priority, addressed in 24 months; 3=lower priority, addressed in 36 months; 0=proposed deletion) Recommended/ Restated Goals for FY: 2026-27 9/20/ Tree Board with partnership Police Dept. 2024 disseminated Public Service Anncmt. 2024 Event-Art in Autumn- Leave the Leaves, Don’t Tree Top & Stormwater Runoff education info 7/12/ Native plants & tree distribution at Summer 2025 Concert series. PSA’s stormwater runoff, Tree Topping, Native species 8/9/2 Native plants & tree distribution at Summer 025 Concert series. PSA’s stormwater runoff, Tree Topping, Native & Invasive species 9/13/ Native plants & tree distribution at Summer 2025 Concert series. PSA’s stormwater runoff, Tree Topping, Native & Invasive species info.        4 15