CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003

 

REGULAR MEETING

5:30 P.M.

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Mr. Malone called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m., with roll call as follows:  Ms. Cleary and Mr. Malone were present, Ms. Milnor was absent.  Others present were  Frank Wiseman, Gregg Ellis, Sandy Whittington, Diana Fuller and Kim from Keller Farms.  The following students were present:  Beth Wallace and Laura Carter.

 

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of February 12, 2003, Regular Meeting.  Ms. Cleary moved to approve the minutes; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Ms. Cleary and Mr. Malone voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 2-0.

 

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.  Mr. Malone and Ms. Cleary stated that this agenda heading has been resolved and could be removed from future Agendas.

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS. 

Mr. Malone explained to the students the purpose of the Tree Commission and stated that he appreciated that they came to the meeting.                                                                         

 

  1. REPORTS.

Street Tree Report – Attachment I

 

Mr. Ellis explained how the process of  the customized utility jack hammer works for tree stake removal.   

 

Mr. Malone asked Mr. Ellis how he was coming along with his C.E.U credits.  Mr. Ellis stated he receives about 10 per year.

 

  1. SCHEDULED MATTERS.

 

A.                 Street Tree Brochure.

Ms. Cleary asked which computer program the latest draft of the brochure was put on.  She stated if she could get a copy of the latest draft she would be willing to work on it and get it into some type of form.  Frank Wiseman said he would check with Joyce Bushman about the new PIO person and find out if his schedule would allow him to work on this brochure and if not, he will come up with an idea by the next meeting.  Mr. Malone referenced a past idea of possibly utilizing the city website and what

information would be appropriate to include.  Mr. Wiseman stated that he would get a copy of the brochure, see what it looks like, and get copies back to Ms. Cleary and Mr. Malone.  Mr. Wiseman stated that they could take it home and work on ideas and then possibly get together for a work session.  He stated it would be easy to add it to the website.  It would just be a matter of getting approval from Joyce Bushman. 

 

B.                 Tree Preservation Ordinance.

Frank Wiseman stated that Mr. Mapes does have it but has been unable to work on it as yet due to his schedule.  He is aware it needs to be done and will work on it as soon as he gets an opportunity.  Mr. Malone stated that they have been trying to get this done for a couple years now and hopes that Mr. Mapes will get to it soon so that it will be ready to go to Safety Committee and council consideration.  Ms. Cleary asked Mr. Wiseman to let them know when it is ready to go to Safety Committee.

 

C.                 Tree Preservation Update.

Mr. Malone stated that most of the issues talked about before are relatively unchanged.  He stated they were to be contacted by a couple of the developers and representatives mentioned in the last meeting minutes.  He stated he would give them a call since he has not heard from them.  He stated that Mr. Schultz checked into the Wagnall’s Memorial property and indicated it did not appear that construction would affect the stream and the area behind the post office and storage units.

 

Mr. Malone stated the Young’s are starting to work on developing their property just north and west of the Exxon station.  He continued that he talked with Mr. Schultz about how much clearing would be done on their property.  He continued and stated his concerns that they not go down into the ravine or into the stream area on the back or the side so as not to destabilize the area.   He stated Mr. Schultz was going to check with the developer to make sure that wasn’t going to happen but hasn’t heard back as of yet.  He stated it’s a shame our ordinances aren’t in place because at the very least we could be compensated for the larger trees that did come out of there.

 

Mr. Malone stated that Frank Wiseman brought a copy of the Streetscape project from the four way stop towards the center of downtown.  Mr. Wiseman stated the planting of the trees was pulled from this contract due to a number of considerations but it still may not happen this year.  Mr. Malone explained to the students what Streetscape is and what the last phase entails. 

 

D.                 Arboretum.

Mr. Malone stated that after the meeting they would adjourn to the arboretum area by the covered bridge to look at future improvements that Keller Farms would be making.

 

  1. OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Wiseman stated that there is a Department of Natural Resources fund for the Ohio Bicentennial Legacy Tree Planting initiative.  He stated that funds were received last year for the trees up at Interstate 70 and 256 and it is available again this year.  He continued that  an application will be put in for these funds and the deadline for filing the application is May 5, 2003. 

 

Mr. Malone asked about the issue of increasing the size of the Tree Commission from 3 to 5.  Ms. Cleary stated that she had spoken to Councilman Bill Wright about increasing size of the Tree Commission quite a while ago and he was going to get that put on the Agenda.  Mr. Wiseman stated that he spoke with Mr. Wright and he suggested that we have a formal letter from the Tree Commission to Safety requesting the increase in size.  Ms. Cleary made a motion to draft a letter to Safety Committee requesting a couple of additional people to sit on the Tree Commission which would bring the Commissions total to 5 people.  Frank Wiseman stated that he would get that letter together.  Mr. Malone seconded the motion.   Ms. Cleary and Mr. Malone voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 2-0.

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT.  Their being nothing further, Mr. Malone moved to adjourn.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 5:55 P.M., March 12, 2003 and proceeded with Kim of Keller Farms to the Arboretum..

 

 

 

 

 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

    ___________________________________

    Diana Fuller, Administrative Assistant

 

 

    _____________________________________

    Frank Wiseman, Service Department Director