CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

REGULAR MEETING

6:30 P.M.

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Mr. Malone called the meeting to order at 6:40 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Goodrich, Ms. Shelts, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Malone were present.  Edward Drobina and Angie Perrine were also present. 

 

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of June 22, 2009, Regular Meeting.  Mr. Goodrich moved to approve; Mr. McKinley seconded the motion.  Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Goodrich and Ms. Shelts  voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 4-0.

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  No comments. 

 

  1. REPORTS.   
    1. Street Tree Report

Mr. McKinley asked when the City Arborist, Gregg Ellis would begin Fall planting.  Mr. Drobina replied Mr. Ellis is presently getting quotes on trees and should plant next month.  Mr. Goodrich asked how many trees Gregg is planning on planting.  Mr. Drobina stated he believed 83 trees.  The City has a lot of replacement trees to plant.   

 

 

       5.    SCHEDULED MATTERS.

                  a.   Tree Preservation Update. 

Mr. Goodrich asked if Walgreens had replaced any trees.  Mr. Malone stated that they have and they look nice in that parking area.  Mr. Drobina stated another place that looks nice is the new assisted living place.  They really did a great job with the landscaping.     

 

 

    1. Emerald Ash Borer.

Mr. Malone asked Ms. Shelts if she had any comments from a conference they both had attended.  She stated she was waiting and would discuss some things under communications tonight.  Mr. Malone questioned Mr. Drobina if Gregg Ellis had found anymore Emerald Ash Borer insects in the city.  Mr. Drobina asked Mr. Ellis to check around the city but has not heard back from Gregg yet.

 

    1.   Arboretum.

Mr. Malone stated the city had some maintenance work done.  Mr. Drobina stated they replaced some boards on the bridge.    

                                                                    

    1.  City Beautification Campaign.

Mr. McKinley stated this was being included in the work session with the Parks & Recreation Board.  They have some ideas that want to discuss with us. 

 

                  e.     Discuss a joint work session with the Parks & Recreation Board. 

Mr. McKinley stated they still do not have a date yet.  He had e-mailed Carol Carter because he doesn’t have any of the chairmen of the Parks & Recreation board’s information.  Mr. McKinley stated that he believes this work session will not take place until the end of October or early November.  Mr. McKinley also suggested not waiting to late in November due to the Holidays coming up.  Mr. Malone asked if the tree commission had any agenda items they wanted to discuss tonight; or should we wait until next meeting when it’s closer to the work session. Ms. Shelts stated she agreed with Mr. McKinley that the City Beautification needed to be included in the work session.  Also, she would like to include bikeways & walkways and the progress being done on that, and signage for both the arboretum and parks.  Mr. Malone stated they needed to ask themselves how they are related to our mission on the Tree Commission.  For example, provide more trees along the bike paths and how to protect trees with trails being added in wooded areas.  Mr. McKinley commented that The Parks & Recreation Board doesn’t have any budget, and this money would need to stay separate. This budget is for urban forestry and tree replacement. They stop at the parks and we encompass the entire city.  Mr. Malone replied we don’t want to get caught up in this and miss opportunities to carry out our own mission here.  I think both committees’ can benefit with the use of some combined efforts.  After some discussions the members agreed to keep this as an agenda item for October’s scheduled meeting.               

                               

  1. COMMUNICATION.    Ms Shelts began to speak about Mr. Malone and her attending this year Central Ohio Urban Forestry Conference at the Franklin Park Conservatory.  They both agreed this conference was very informative.   Ms. Shelts stated we will have a new contact person named Ann Bonner for the Ohio Department, Division of Forestry, and Lisa Bowers has accepted a new position but will still be in charge of the Tree City USA program.  A further discussion was held in regards to the out come of the conference meeting. 

 

 

7.   OTHER BUSINESS.  Mr. McKinley questioned do we know where the City Arborist

position stands with next years budget.  Mr. Drobina replied that he has already had a meeting in regards to his budget and as far as he knows the City Arborist position is still in the budget for next year.  Please note this budget has not been approved by council.      

 

                                                                                                                                                                                         

      8.   ADJOURNMENT. 

            Their being nothing further, Mr. Malone moved to adjourn, Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion.   Mr. McKinley, Ms. Shelts, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 7:08 P.M. on September 28, 2009.

           

 

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

________________________________

Edward Drobina, Service Manager