Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person and Virtual Monday, October 23, 2023 - 4:30 PM Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods. Urban Forestry Commission Oct 23, 2023, 4:30 – 6:30 PM (America/Chicago) Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/795789949 You can also dial in using your phone. Access Code: 795-789-949 United States: +1 (646) 749-3122 Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install Please note that although every effort will be made to provide for virtual participation, unforeseen technical difficulties may prevent this, in which case the meeting may still proceed as long as there is a quorum. Should you wish to make a comment in this situation, you are welcome to call this number: (262) 473-0108. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 4:32 p.m. by ROLL CALL Present: Sherry Stanek, David Stone, Nicholas Alt, Rose Mary Leaver, Patrick Taylor, Bill Chandler, Andrew Beckman Absent: Ryan Tevis Guest Kori Oberle, Dollar Tree Reps, Andrea Lemken and Civil Engineer Andy Gebhart APPROVAL OF URBAN FORESTRY SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 MINUTES 1. Approval of September 25, 2023 Minutes Motion by N. Alt second by D. Stone. Passed unanimously by voice vote. Urban Forestry Commission Minutes October 23, 2023 Page 2 HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS No Citizen comments. TREASURER'S REPORT Balance is $1,014.09. No action since last month. STAFF REPORTS 2. Territorial Oak Beckman present that the territorial oak is coming down 10-24-2023. Markers taken down. Traffic Flow was discussed. Wood will be going to City garage storage until plan for playground and possible slice for arboretum (slab size needs to be determined). Largest chunks possibly will be preserved. This will take most of the day. 2024 Terrace Tree Order Order was put in to secure the Butternut from Johnson’s. We have 48 trees for spring delivery. Will check later about any price update. Butternut is planned for a park not a terrace. Trees ordered are local and varied. No longer mono-cultures. CONSIDERATIONS / DISCUSSIONS / REPORTS 3. Review and possible approval of the Landscape Plan for Dollar Tree. Stanek mention that there are only 5 honey locust trees. There is more than a than a 15 ft buffer on all sides. So little detail on plans and city ordinance and landscape guidelines. Stone: Usually a lot more detail vegetation. Alt: One type of tree in 5 spots and calling it landscape Doesn’t seem that is not enough. Dollar tree representative thought they were following all guidelines, but if there is a additional requirements, than would like to see it. Stanek: Building in wetland area and what are plans to mitigate Dollar tree: Buy credits from the DNR. Dollar: Will meet all requirements. If there are additional guidelines then will work with City to do the right thing. Conclusion: Not approved as is, will work together to make it work. TREE CITY 4. Tree Sale: Urban Forestry Commission Minutes October 23, 2023 Page 3 Alt needs to get the last 2 years. Would like to get a number of trees for spring 2024. This past year we sold all but 4 and those were put into parks. The year before we sold out. Would like the ability to do a pre-sale on line as a possible. Chandler not sure about presale because advertising and delivery. Leaning toward not doing a presale online. New parks director we can’t approved city money. The park director needs to add to the budget. Stanek: if people want to order tree they can from other sources. Jim wont’ all us to use to use his truck to transport trees. Goal of UFC is to get trees into community not to make money, just cover the expenses. Suggestions for moving forward. Still want community tree sale. Maybe a different date no arbor day and change to a Friday and Saturday. Alt: Order list has been modified to reflect sales from previous years. Ok to research presale. Reconsider whether market has been tapped. Spring and increase adversting with approval of the City. Alt and Stanek to meet with Park Director. Northern White Cedar is the densest tree. Page 18 is cost and trees. Motion by Taylor to have tree sale with 250 trees to be conducted as in the past, looking for later in spring for pending weather. Pending approval of the City. Second by Alt. Passed unanimously by voice vote. 6. Arboretum Update Trying to finish up grant needs to be satisfied. 7. Update on Pulse welcome signs Signs will now be delivered November 4th. Signs paid for. Pulse Company has been difficult to work with. BIRD CITY 8. 2022 Certification for Bird City Application Discussion Certification process was discussed. There were a lot of questions about not adding ordinance. City Manager to read resolution regarding Bird City. NEW BUSINESS Urban Forestry Commission Minutes October 23, 2023 Page 4 9. Milkweed Protection Discussion Put off till next time. 10. Protection of oaks from library expansion Final approval by the planning board has not been done. Protection still possible. New item for Next Agenda Funding for fourth purple martin house. Next Meeting is November 27, 2023 ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:05 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. 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.