Urban Forestry Commission

Urban Forestry Commission Cravath Lakefront room 2nd floor 312 West Whitewater Str, Whitewater, WI, 53190 *In Person and Virtual Monday, September 29, 2025 - 5:30 PM Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods. 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. 1. Topic: Urban Forestry Commission Time: Sep 29, 2025 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89592911936?pwd=1wZ4pxV2jTv6NCSjH4ZooxLJnW0ObW.1 Meeting ID: 895 9291 1936 Passcode: 004861 --- One tap mobile +16469313860,,89592911936#,,,,*004861# US +19292056099,,89592911936#,,,,*004861# US (New York) Join instructions https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/89592911936/invitations?signature=L4hFmDvIN404 KQSva3ad6bMq7y5bOew5u_P6ryeL9GY AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Called to order at 5:30pm by Chairperson Nick Alt. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Nick Alt, Board Member Sherry Stanek, Board Member Joshua Kapfer, Board Member Marjorie Stoneman, Board Member Bill Chandler, Board Member Kerry Katovich. Absent: None Others Present: City Staff Kevin Boehm, City Forester Andrew Beckman. 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, Urban Forestry Commission Minutes September 29, 2025 Page 2 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 Kapfer, Seconded by Board Member Stoneman to approve the agenda. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member Stoneman, Board Member Chandler, Board Member Stanek, Chairperson Alt. CONSENT AGENDA Items on the Consent Agenda will be approved together unless any committee member requests that an item be removed for individual consideration. 2. Urban Forestry Commission meeting minutes from August 25, 2025 Motion made by Board Member Stoneman, Seconded by Board member Katovich to approve minutes as presented. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member Stoneman, Board Member Chandler, Board Member Stanek, Chairperson Alt. 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. Discussion was had with the students present about what an Urban Forest is and tree diversity by Alt, Chandler and Stanek. TREASURER REPORT 3. Treasurers Report Boehm gave an update on the fund balance available to the Urban Forestry Commission with a total available of $4,722.51. Motion made by Board Member Chandler, Seconded by Board member Katovich to approve the treasurers report as presented. Voting Yea: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member Stoneman, Board Member Chandler, Board Member Stanek, Chairperson Alt. CONSIDERATIONS / DISCUSSIONS / REPORTS Urban Forestry Commission Minutes September 29, 2025 Page 3 4. Discussion and possible action on moving day of week for future meetings, and frequency of meetings. Boehm asked for discussion on moving the meeting date from the last Monday of the month due to network updates held on that date every month. Motion made by Board Member Stanek, Seconded by Board member Kapfer to change the meeting night to the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm. Voting Nay: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member Stoneman, Board Member Chandler, Board Member Stanek, Chairperson Alt. Motion Failed Motion made by Board Member Chandler, Seconded by Board member Stanek to change the meeting night to the first Monday of the month at 5:30pm quarterly or as needed. Voting Aye: Board Member Kapfer, Board Member Katovich, Board Member Stoneman, Board Member Chandler, Board Member Stanek, Chairperson Alt. Motion passed. Further discussion was had on frequency of meetings moving forward. It was decided to have meetings in February, May, August and November or as needed. 5. Discussion and possible action on an education piece for the Whitewater Banner why the Bradford pear should not be used in plantings and the environmental impact of planting them. Alt gave a brief explanation to the students present. Kapfer gave information that the student he reached out did not respond. He will follow up. 6. Discussion and possible action on education session at the Arboretum. No action has been taken since the last meeting. Alt and Stanek to follow up. 7. Discussion and possible action on funding ideas for the Arboretum. No action has been taken since the last meeting. Stanek will look into grants. Fundraising will be used for signage, tree ID. 8. Discussion and possible action on what to do with wood from Territorial Oak. Stanek will continue to work with Russ Walton. BIRD CITY 9. Update on Bird City. Chandler gave an update on Swift Night Out and the overall success of the event. Saturday August 29th will be the night in 2026 starting at 7pm. He gave an update of the Lake Geneva event. Fellow Mortals of Lake Geneva will be solicited to attend the event and give a wildlife presentation for $100.00, the school district has been notified of the event and an indoor location at the school has been requested. Chandler and Stanek worked with Boehm to update the Urban Forestry pages on the City Website. Urban Forestry Commission Minutes September 29, 2025 Page 4 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS  Potential Bird of the Year contest. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:28pm. 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.