Westminster Tree Commission

Westminster Tree Commission MINUTES OF MEETING November 26, 2013 The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chair Steve Allgeier. Commission Members in attendance were: Melinda Byrd and Cindy May. Non-Voting Ex-Officio Members in attendance: Bartlett Tree Experts Jessica Fitzgerald and Brian Rhoten; City of Westminster Steve Sager and Eric Schlitzer. By unanimous consent the minutes of the meeting of May 8, 2013 were approved. 1. Wrap Up: 2013 Urban & Community Forestry Workshop a. Attendance: Paid attendance was 90, a 28.5% increase over 2012. Speakers, Bartlett staff and City staff totaled 25. Overall attendance was 115. b. Evaluations: The Commission reviewed the 2013 Workshop Evaluation Summary. Overall the workshop received very good ratings in the participant’s evaluations. The average score from all 8 categories was 4.21. These categories were main presentations (5), lunch (1) and the afternoon workshops (4). The specific comments were reviewed one by one and will be taken into consideration for the 2014 Workshop. c. Budget, Preliminary: Net Income was $3,014.37, an increase of $1072.41 over the prior year. The balance remaining at the end of this fiscal year rolls over into the next fiscal year. d. Ideas for a better Workshop in 2014: 2. Memorial Tree for Rebekah Orenstein The Tree Commission recommends Crimson King Maple tree(s) be planted on the front lawn of City Hall. The general location discussed was approximately 2/3 of the distance to the parking lot. The specific location will need to be determined in the field. The tree matures to a height of 35 to 40 ft. and has 25 to 30 diameter drip line growth. 3. Recommendations for Tree Commissioner The Commissioners discussed several possible individuals to fill the current vacancy. One name stood out. With the concurrence of the Commission, the Chair will contact this person to see if they would be interested. If interested then the name would be sent to the City Administration for consideration by the Mayor. (Note: When contacted this person express interest in serving on the Tree Commission, but not at this time.) 4. Pending Resignation of Melinda Byrd. Due to growing business commitments Melinda Bird announced that she would not seek reappointment when her term expires in April 2014. Further she stated that she may need to resign before her term expires. The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m. by unanimous consent. Respectfully Submitted, Steven T. Sager, City Planner