Green Space Advisory Commission

WEBSTER GROVES GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Meeting Date: Monday, August 2, 2021 Location: City Hall Called to Order: 5:30 p.m. Adjourned: 6:15 p.m. Next Meeting Date: September 13, 2021, 5:30 p.m. NAME PRESENT ABSENT Annie Russell X Bill Hoss X Pam Bliss, City Council Liaison X Ann Omura X Ginger Garrett X (Zoom) Laura Jordan X Lynnda Greene X Jerry Pinkner X Zoom Carrie Coyne, Chairman X Tessa Wasserman X (Zoom) Yvonne Steingruby, Staff Liaison X Approval of Minutes: The July meeting minutes were approved as written. Old Business: A. Douglas Hill Development. Pam Bliss, unable to attend tonight, emailed that the next Plan Commission would be held August 9th, and that Public Hearings for the Douglas Hill development would continue, and likely remain open into September. B. Trees of Distinction Tree Renewal Program Update. Carrie (chair) reported that she has met with Scott Davis (Director of Parks and Recreation) and Todd Rehg (Director of Public Works) about the proposal, and but are very interested in facilitating all aspects of it pending City Council approval. She also reported that she will soon meet with Andre Bueller, Public Works arborist) to set up a subcommittee, members of which could advise on selection of trees to be purchased and planting locations. Pam Bliss also let us know by email that she’d arranged for Carrie to give a PowerPoint presentation of the Trees of Distinction Renewal Program to the city council at their next meeting on August 17th. GSAC members are welcome to attend. Carrie asked that GSAC members study her written proposal carefully and email any  feedback to her before the council meeting on August 17th. C. Fall Native Tree and Plant Walk. Carrie reported that Scott Woodbury, manager of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at the Shaw Nature Preserve, has agreed to talk about native plants and trees in Sculpture Park, Kirkham median, and Lorraine Davis Parks. If time allows, he may demonstrate how to collect, process and store dried seeds as well. D. Mayors for Monarchs Pledge. Jerry (Pinkner), who has studied the “Mayors for Monarchs Pledge” organization for the commission, presented a thorough PowerPoint report summarizing the program’s requirements and goals. Communities must complete a specific number of qualifying projects from a list of thirty in order to achieve membership status. The first requirement, however, is issuing a proclamation of intent from the mayor, which Mayor Gerry Welch plans to do by the December deadline. Communities will have three months—from January to March 2022—in which to complete their qualifying projects. Jerry’s presentation noted that Webster has already fulfilled many of the qualifying initiatives the program specified. These include: engaging with city parks, public works, developers and planners to revise and maintain mowing programs, and establish pollinator support planting efforts; hosting public education lectures for residents to promote use of pollinator-supporting plants in landscaping; working with residents, developers and planners to create, plant and maintain community pollinator gardens in private green spaces. Lynnda (Greene) questioned what is meant by the oft-used term “community garden” throughout the document. Were these to be sponsored only by community groups-- churches, schools, parks departments-- or could private residential gardens also qualify? Jerry affirmed that the term implies a lot of overlap in types of planting spaces, so residential pollinator gardens, depending on components, may qualify. He also reiterated that Mayor Welch would like to work closely with GSAC to create new pollinator garden spaces once the program launches and moves forward. Tessa Wasserman relayed a need for volunteers to help out at the Steger and Computer School’s pollinator garden on August 14, 8-10:00 a.m. Those interested should contact Lisa Picker, a Steger teacher. New Business A. Upcoming volunteer events. Yvonne reiterated that she plans to offer several volunteer work opportunities for Webster’s Make A Difference Day on October 23rd. One will be another honeysuckle removal session.  B. The GSAC membership terms of three current members (Ann Omura, Lynnda Greene and Tessa Wasserman) will expire in October. Yvonne reminded that those members wishing to continue into another three-year term should contact Katie Nakazono, secretary to the city council, and plan to reapply for the position in the event that other community members would like to apply. Tessa Wasserman said she planned to step down from GSAC, after serving over ten years. Updates A. Chairman: see above. B. Council: Pam Bliss, per email, announced that council meetings will begin being open to the public in-person in the Council Chambers. However, all visitors will be required to wear masks. Also, beginning August 3rd, one must be present in person or via Zoom in order to read their own "Remarks of Visitors" aloud. C. Staff: Yvonne explained the rules concerning how GSAC members are to email each other regarding GSAC and city business. Any members sending emails to the group must BCC the group. When replying, reply only to the sender. (If you reply “to all” that email string has now become part of the public record as we now have a quorum of a government body doing business) Pursuant to 610.010(5)RSMo, a committee doing “business” outside of a published meeting, and depending on the contact of the email could therefore be illegal, and is certainly now part of the public record and subject to the Sunshine Law. There can be no back and forth communication between more than three persons without it being posted as a meeting and minutes kept. If you need further clarification, please contact steingrubyy@webstergroves.org VIII. Next Meeting The next GSAC meeting will be on September 13, 5:30 p.m., in the City Council conference room. IX. Adjournment 6:15 p.m.