Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person and Virtual Monday, January 27, 2025 - 5:30 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Board Member McCormick at 5:32 p.m. Board Member Brown arrived via zoom at 5:35 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT Council Representative Brienne Brown Board Member Joshua Kapfer Board Member Kerry Katovich Board Member Carol McCormick Board Member Bill Chandler ABSENT Board Member Sherry Stanek Chairperson Nicholas Alt STAFF Andrew Beckman, Arborist Kevin Boehm, Director of Park and Recreation APPROVAL OF AGENDA A committee member can choose to remove an item from the agenda or rearrange its order; however, introducing new items to the agenda is not allowed. Any proposed changes require a motion, a second, and approval from the Committee to be implemented. The agenda shall be approved at each meeting even if no changes are being made at that meeting. Motion made by Board Member Katovich, Seconded by Board Member Chandler. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler CONSENT AGENDA Items on the Consent Agenda will be approved together unless any committee member requests that an item be removed for individual consideration. 1. Approval of October 10, 2024 Minutes Urban Forestry Commission Minutes January 27, 2025 Page 2 Motion made by Board Member Kapfer, Seconded by Board Member Katovich. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler Voting Abstaining: Council Representative Brown HEARING OF CITIZEN COMMENTS No formal Committee action will be taken during this meeting although issues raised may become a part of a future agenda. Participants are allotted a three minute speaking period. Specific items listed on the agenda may not be discussed at this time; however, citizens are invited to speak to those specific issues at the time the Committee discusses that particular item. To make a comment during this period, or during any agenda item: On a computer or handheld device, locate the controls on your computer to raise your hand. You may need to move your mouse to see these controls. On a traditional telephone, dial *6 to unmute your phone and dial *9 to raise your hand. None TREASURER'S REPORT 2. Treasurer's Report Motion to table matter till next meeting. Motion made by Board Member Kapfer, Seconded by Board Member Chandler. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler Voting Abstaining: Council Representative Brown 3. Discussion and possible action on segregated funds between City and Urban Forestry Commisison. Matter was tabled Motion made by Board Member Chandler, Seconded by Board Member Katovich. Voting Yea: Council Representative Brown, Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler STAFF REPORT None TREE CITY 4. Discussion on how is funding going to be secured on a continual basis for the future? This matter was tabled Urban Forestry Commission Minutes January 27, 2025 Page 3 Motion made by Board Member Chandler, Seconded by Board Member Katovich. Voting Yea: Council Representative Brown, Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler 5. Discussion and possible action regarding 2025 Tree Sale A. Amount to spend on trees B. Making sure order contains more of what people are requesting This matter was tabled Motion made by Board Member Chandler, Seconded by Board Member Katovich. Voting Yea: Council Representative Brown, Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member McCormick, Board Member Chandler 6. Discussion and revision of current Landscaping Guidelines policy. McCormick explained that this was brought to Plan Commission and she was put to task by other members of the commission for a red line version of the changes. The question is related to the point system. Are are going to continue with the policy and red line it, which means to go page by page and make changes or do we do away with it. Beckman stated that if you get away from the points systems you would have to replace it. McCormick stated that the point system felt archaic. Beckman explained that with the point system if a development leaves certain size trees they get points for those. If plant certain type trees you get points for those. The developer has be come up with a landscape plan with the minimum amount of points that are required. They can have more. McCormick asked about who does the points. Beckman explained that when the landscapers are together the development plan they are keeping a running total of the points. Most will do the bare minimum and some will do more. The idea is to get them to have enough points in that they have diverse landscape. This is why we updated the trees and plants. Boehm stated that there is no where in the guidelines is there a description of what the point system is or how many points you need. Brown asked if this was something that Board Member Stanek would now but she was not at the meeting. McCormick stated that the policy was adopted in 2005, revised in 2006 and revised in 2010 which is 14 years. Beckman stated that it is very dated. McCormick asked who decided the point system. Beckman stated who could tell you who it has been here a long time. Urban Forestry Commission Minutes January 27, 2025 Page 4 Katovich pointed out that on page 7 of the packet or page 2 of the policy under paved areas it says one large deciduous tree and additional landscaping should planted for each 1,500 square feet of paved area but there are no points listed there. Katovich mentioned that even on page 9 of packet or page 4 of policy that an additional 200 points of landscaping should be planted for each 5,000 square feet of total site area. Chandler stated that a point systems if very efficent at looking at things objectively. Beckman stated that we need to figure out the end game. Boehm asked Beckman if where the species are currently listed, is this where the new lists would be going into. Beckman confirmed that would be the case. McCormick asked is there a threshold that developers have to reach. Recommended we showed reach out to another city how they do theirs. McCormick stated this is a work in process. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -Moving Kerry Katovich to a full position -One of the landlords order stickers from the purple martin society and they will be added to the poles with contact information for those houses. -Territorial Oak joint meeting with Landmarks Commission NEXT MEETING DATE FEBRUARY 25, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjournment at 6:05 p.m.