CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2010

REGULAR MEETING

6:30 P.M.

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Ms. Shelts called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., with roll call as follows:  Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Vega and Ms. Shelts were present.  Mayor  O’Brien, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Vance, Mr. Drobina, Mr. Bachman, Mrs. Medinger,   Mrs. Carter, Mr. & Mrs. Goodrich,  and Ms.  Perrine was also present.  

 

 

2    APPROVAL OF MINUTES of June 30, 2010 Regular Meeting.  Ms. Shelts  moved to        approve; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Mr. McKinley, Mr. Vega, Mr. Malone    and Ms. Shelts voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 4-0.

 

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  Mrs. Carter stated she want to know if anyone had taken a look at the trees in the medium in Ramar Subdivision.  Ms. Shelts stated she had not.  Mr. McKinley commented he thought she wanted to discuss adding a concrete curb to the medium in the Ramar Subdivision.  Mr. Bachman stated that a curb could be added to the capital improvement plan.  Mrs. Carter stated she wanted to have someone come out and take a look at the trees.

 

            Ms. Shelts noted that Mr. Goodrich’s term had expired and was hoping that he would   return to the commission.  Mr. Goodrich replied, yes he has completed the application.      Ms. Shelts also welcomed people in the audience in attendance for tonight’s meeting.

 

            Ms. Shelts stated she would like to make a few comments/questions regarding donations           being made to the city.  In the past people wanted to donate flowers, trees,           and signage at   the arboretum. I was told no because the city is a not for-profit organization.  What can    we do about these private donations, asked Ms. Shelts.  Mr. Vance, the City      Manager replied that it was his understanding that the city is a non-profit organization,    and we are not operating for any kind of commercial profit. Mayor O’Brien   commented that the Building Department in the city received a nice donated coffee   pot.  The city wrote a thank-you note and stated thank you for your generous    donation with the item, serial number and no dollar amount.  It is left up to the individual         and there accountant how they proceed.

 

              Ms Shelts also stated that the city needed more trash receptacles through out the city.           

 

 

  1. REPORTS.    
    1. Street Tree Report

 

Mr. Drobina asked if anyone had any questions regarding June and July’s reports.  Mr. McKinley asked if any more pruning would be done in the Sycamore Creek Subdivision.  Mr. Drobina stated that this was still being done in that area and tree trimming in the Simsbury Subdivision was complete. A lot more needed to be done throughout the city.  Mr. McKinley asked how much this has cost the city. Mr. Drobina stated that the city has spent $20,000 this year so far on pruning and trimming and more needs to be done this fall.  Presently, we are putting together a list of trees that need to be planted this fall and we have a count of 42 trees and the list is growing as we get more calls into the office.

 

Ms. Shelts stated she had a comment about the tree database.  She would like to be able to take a look at the database.  Mr. McKinley questioned if she wanted to see it on the city website.   Ms. Shelts stated she thought that would be great or even on GPS.  Mr. McKinley questioned doesn’t the city already have GPS equipment.  Mr. Drobina replied, presently we are working on GPS for water, sewer, and storm.  After we get this completed then we are working on GPS for signs and then start working on the Arboretum.  Ms. Shelts stated she would like to received updates quarterly and annually on the tree database.  Mr. Drobina stated that he would get this information to her.

   

  

       5.    SCHEDULED MATTERS.

                  a.    Discussion 2010-2011 Beautification and Tree Ideas.

 

Mr. Vance stated that he has always worked with Tree City USA communities and that is was nice that the City of Pickerington is also one.  Mr. Vance asked if the committee would consider changing its name to The Tree and Beautification Committee or just Tree Commission/Beautification.  Also, would the commission like to add some beautification interest as well as the tree planting.  The staff would like to have some direction on this because the city has plenty of potential projects in mind that we could direct your way if you were interested in assuming these responsibilities.  Mr. Malone asked how much do you see would be different than what the Parks & Recreation Committee handle.  Mr. Vance stated that he was not aware of any recognized beautification efforts being done by the Parks & Recreation Committee at this point and time.  Mr. Malone commented that he was not sure what Mr. Vance meant by the term beautification.  Mr. Vance replied anything that would make the city look better.  For instance, if you wanted to adopt the downtown area, help with some volunteer clean-up days, beautification beds, different types of banners that could be put up.  These ideas could be an addition to the tree planting.  The Tree Commission could be the place where we could take these ideas and discuss them, that has been my experience with a Tree Commission.  Some more discussions went on and it was decided that a work session should take place to work on the details of this matter.  Ms. Shelts moved to approve to have a representative from the Tree Commission to meet with the Parks & Recreation, the Mayor and the City Manager to go over the ideas for expanding to include beautification;   Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Ms. Shelts, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Malone, Mr. Vega voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.     Mr. McKinley moved to be the representative from the Tree Commission to meet with the Parks & Recreation, the Mayor and the City Manager; Mr. Vega seconded the motion.  Mr. Malone, Mr. Vega, and Mr. McKinley voted “Aye,” opposed Ms. Shelts.  Motion carried, 3-1.

   

   

    1.   Tree Preservation Update.

 

Mr. Malone stated that regarding the issue with C-3 Church property across from Stonebridge Subdivision.  I talked to the person in charge of the work along the stream and he assured me that they were just doing some re-grading and not getting into trees.  Mr. McKinley asked a question in regards to Impact Fees when a new phase of a subdivision starts.  Do they pay a lump some of Impact Fees when they purchase the property?  Mr. Bachman stated the Impact Fees are paid when the builder pays for a permit each time they build a house.    

 

                   c.      Arboretum.

 

Mr. Drobina stated that there had been some damage to some of the trees.  It looked like someone had been pulling some limbs off the trees.  The Service Department will be mowing in the Arboretum for the second time later this fall.  We have received the Arbor Day plaque but it has not been placed yet.  Ms. Shelts asked how is the vandalism around the city this year.  Mr. Drobina commented that some graffiti was on the inside of the covered bridge, and they have had some trouble with picnic tables in the park once a week with kids starting fires on top of the tables, etc.  We have started locking the gate at Sycamore Park at dark and then unlocking it in the morning.  Mr. McKinley questioned Mr. Drobina in regards to a temporary counter on the covered bridge to see how much foot traffic it receives.  Mr. Drobina replied the issue is that kids would walk by it a thousand times just to set it off.  He didn’t feel we would get an accurate count.  

 

 

 

                   d.      Review Parks Master Plan & Updating Existing Ordinances.

 

Mr. McKinley stated that they needed to update the codes to reflect what is in the parks master plan.  Mr.Drobina commented that we need to update the tree ordinances to match the parks master plan.  Mr. McKinley agreed and also remarked that the Urban Forestry fees normally goes up 3% and is recommending going up 5%.  Ms. Shelts responded in these economic times she didn’t feel they should increase.  Mr. Vance asked if the city has any historic tree destinations.  Mr. McKinley stated that they have the capability to do that.  We have never used it but have the opportunity to do it.  Mr. Vance commented that the language states that if you take down a historic tree that is so many inches that you have to replace it with so many trees.  Mr. Malone replied you are talking about something that has some history to it, not just existing trees.  Mr. Vance commented that was correct.   Some additional conversation went on regarding  historic trees and how to handle them.  Ms. Shelts moved to approve to amended Section 1266.04  (a) (1)-(5) to reflect an increase of one for each caliper size; Mr. Malone seconded the motion. Mr. McKinley, Mr. Vega, Ms. Shelts and Mr. Malone voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.   Mr. Malone moved to accept the revising of 1258.15 (a) with the increase of the minimum caliper and deletion of “whenever  possible;”  Mr. Vega seconded the motion.  Ms. Shelts, Mr. Malone, Mr. McKinley and Mr. Vega voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  Mr. Vega moved to accept the recommendations in section 1266.04 (b) in (5) a fee schedule should be established to define the “fee equal to the replacement cost of the affected tree(s).” Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Mr. McKinley, Ms. Shelts, Mr. Vega, and Mr. Malone “Aye.” Motion carried, 4-0.

 

                             

  1. COMMUNICATION.  

 

 

7.   OTHER BUSINESS.   Mr. Malone stated that he would like the Tree Commission Members sheet updated with the appointment expires dates.  Ms. Perrine stated that she would take care of this. 

 

      Mayor O’Brien stated that the city has been invited by MORPC to join the Walnut Creek Park Preservation Area and hopes they can gain some good ideas.  Mr. Malone replied that he has been a member of the Walnut Creek Watershed group for years and looks forward to Pickerington being a part of this expanded effort. 

 

 

  

                   

      8.   ADJOURNMENT.      Their being nothing further, Ms. Shelts moved to adjourn, Mr. Malone seconded the motion.   Mr. McKinley, Mr. Malone, Mr. Vega and Ms. Shelts  voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 7:25 P.M. on  August 25,  2010

           

 

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

ATTEST:  _______________________

Edward Drobina, Service Manager