Green Space Advisory Commission

GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Meeting Date: Monday, January 4, 2016 Location: Webster Groves Recreation Complex Called To Order: 7:20 p.m. Adjourned: 8:15 p.m. Next Meeting Date: Monday, February 1, 2016 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Anne Tolan, Council Liaison X Annie Russell X Bill Hoss X Ginger Garrett X Glen Horton X Janis Schweitzer X Joanne Fogarty X Peg Pedersen X Richard Fitzgerald X Shawnell Faber, Staff Liaison X Tessa Wasserman X Also present: Staff member Michelle Clemens Approval of Minutes: The November meeting minutes were approved as written. OLD BUSINESS: Farmers Market Booth: Discussion was continued from the last meeting regarding the GSAC’s participation in the weekly Farmers Market. Tessa will contact the Market Manager to advise her of the GSAC interest in having a booth next year. The Market season runs May through October and is held every Thursday afternoon in Old Orchard. It was agreed that the GSAC will work in teams to host the booth, with a different topic as needed. Topics will include Monarch Butterflies in the spring, garden topics in the summer, invasive species, and composting in the fall. Another topic can be Bring Conservation Home, depending upon how many dates the GSAC can obtain the booth. Speaker Series Discussion: Tessa will be attending a Table for Trees workshop in February. This topic could be one for consideration for a future Speaker Series. Tables are constructed using branches from honeysuckle. Other items can be made as well. The program is designed to interest the public in removing invasive honeysuckle. The workshop is held to train others to hold their own workshops for their communities. Trees of Distinction Brochure: It will cost approximately $800 to print a revised Trees of Distinction Brochure that would include the most recent additions. There is $300 in the City budget that can be used toward this but the additional money would have to be raised. There are still 25 copies left of the original brochure. Shawnell will check with Tracy Driscoll to get her feedback on other costs, etc. One option would be to just change to copy on the City’s website so that it’s updated and perhaps request additional funds in the next budget request. NEW BUSINESS: Trees of Distinction Nominations: Everyone was requested to bring their nominations to the February meeting for review and selection. The nomination form can be found on the City’s website for anyone interested in submitting. 1 Arbor Day Planning: The annual Arbor Day event will be held some time in April and planning needs to begin soon. Details that need to be discussed include location, date, Tree Steward awardee, Trees of Distinction awardee(s), etc. A suggestion was made to hold it at Barbre Park due to the recent meeting there rewarding future improvements. GSAC members were requested to bring their ideas and suggestions to the next meeting. CHAIRMAN UPDATE: none COUNCIL UPDATE: Anne Tolan City Council will be discussing the proposed Great Rivers Greenway project. GRG will need some easements from the City in order to have access through the parks. They will also need easements from private owners as well for the project to move forward. STAFF UPDATE: Shawnell Faber March 5th – 13th has been designated for communities to remove honeysuckle. Janis Schweitzer had sent an email to GSAC members suggesting they consider participating in this project. After discussion, the GSAC agreed they would participate by continuing with their honeysuckle removal at Deer Creek Park on March 5th. This will be held from 9:00 am – Noon. It is hoped that others in the community will also want to participate. It will be publicized on the City’s website, Community Connection, WK Times calendar, Facebook, flyers and posters put up around the City, etc. Someone could contact the schools to see if there are any students who would like to earn community service hours. Area garden clubs, etc. can also be contacted to see if they would be interested in participating. A question was raised regarding the City’s liability if a volunteer is hurt or property damaged by a volunteer during a project. Anne Tolan will check with the City Manager or Attorney to obtain that information. NEXT MEETING: The next regular meeting will be held at the Recreation Complex on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 7:15 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 2