Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Whitewater Municipal Building Upstairs Conference Room, 312 West Whitewater St., Whitewater, WI 53190 *In Person and Virtual Monday, September 25, 2023 - 4:30 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL: Stanek, Chandler, Leaver, Beckman, Stone and Alt. Guests: Brad Marquardt Absent: Tevis APPROVAL OF AUGUST 28, 2023 AGENDA: Motion by Stone and Chandler seconded. Approved unanimously. HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS: None CONSIDERATIONS / DISCUSSIONS / REPORTS 2. Discussion of the Starin Park Detention Pond-Brad Marquardt Director of Public Works. 2017 Strand put together a stormwater management plan for the city. This included an underground detention pond in Starin park to help the City and the University met our requirements. Both have permits from the DNR. There are currently extra funds through the Clean water fund. It is a loan but with interest rates lower than most loans. We can also receive principal forgiveness by 50%. Park board is open to this for an underground retention pond but would prefer that is under a parking lot or under the baseball field. DNR requires a 400 ft away from our well. The parking lot is within the 400ft but looking at waivers. The map was a concept where to locate the pond but not firm. Strand will look at other areas and go back to the Park board. Intent to apply needs to be filed by end of October to see where we rank. Full application needs to be filed summer of 2024. Funds will be available 2025. Construction will be 2025 or 2026. TREASURER'S REPORT (Leaver) 1014.09 is the current balance. $35.00 purple martin association fee was taken out. Everyone has been reimbursed. STAFF REPORT 3. Arboretum-Tree Reimbursement Update-This has been taken care of. 4. Spongy Moss update-handouts attached. This was a boom year according to the DNR. If we get another dry spring like last year we will likely get more than the few cases we had. If egg masses are located in a public park please let the arborist Andy Beckman know. If on own tree wear gloves and scrape off and put it in soapy water. DNR introduced wasps to kill them but they will only come back out in Spring. Can be sprayed with a golden oil. Chemical spraying has to get permission everyone in the block. Which can be an issue. If we get a wet spring there is a virus that kills them. Our reaction plan going forward we will remove the caterpillars. If they defoliate them we will start the watering program an inch a week. Urban Forestry Commission Agenda September 25, 2023 Page 2 5. Tree City Application Update-This has been submitted and we are waiting on approval. 6. Tree Growth Update-Waiting on approval of application so we can start putting in the numbers. 7. Territorial Oak Update-Tree company was left a message about the oak. They have been backed up due to the tree damage that Fort Atkinson sustained in July in the Cemetery. Waiting on quote. Dan Richardson keen interest in the tree. Provided a handout from Landmarks from 2019 about what to do with the tree. Have a wood carver come in for the truck. Unknown of whether the trunk is solid The Walworth County Historical has an interest, they meet on second Tuesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. at the history center in downtown Elkhorn. Some of the tree will be used to make a natural playground using part of the oak tree. 8. TREE CITY -2024 Tree Order-No order has been placed. List of trees is ready. - Update DNR Grant Process-We are trying to get it wrapped up. We have been waiting for the Pulse sign updates. The bulk of hours are staff hours. -Update on Pulse Welcome Center Signs-They were signed off a week ago. They are in production. The check has been cut. Pulse designs is the company we ordered the signs from. -Generac Arboretum Volunteers-Waiting to hear back from Generac about the volunteers. They want to do something else in the park. Work on weeds and do mulch is the project we are asking them to help with. 9. BIRD CITY - Discussion on 2023 Application-Email from Chuck with questions. He had problems giving us points that we already got points from. Maybe enforcing the cat on leash. ordinance. We added a new Martin house - Swift Night Out Report-Handout attached - Purple Martin House Report-Handout attached Bluebirds have been seen in the area just not our nesting boxes. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 10. Milkweed Protection/Planting 11. Protection of oaks from Library expansion. ADJOURNMENT- Leaver motioned and Alt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. At 5:52 p.m. A quorum of the Common Council may be present. This notice is given to inform the public that no formal action will be taken at this meeting. Urban Forestry Commission Agenda September 25, 2023 Page 3 Anyone requiring special arrangements is asked to call the Office of the City Manager / City Clerk (262-473-0102) at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.