CITY OF PICKERINGTON

TREE COMMISSION

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 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. Goodrich and Ms. Shelts were present.  Mr. Vega was absent.  Mayor  O’Brien, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Drobina, Mrs. Medinger, Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Goodrich,  and Ms.  Perrine was also present.  

 

 

2    APPROVAL OF MINUTES of August 25, 2010 Regular Meeting.  Mr. Goodrich     moved to approve; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Mr. McKinley, Mr.          Malone, Mr. Goodrich and Ms. Shelts voted “Aye”.  Motion carried, 4-0.

 

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  Mayor O’Brien stated that City Manager Mr. Vance was unable to attend the meeting tonight and he wanted to keep discussions open about the proposal of renaming the Tree Commission to the Tree and Beautification Committee. The Mayor commented that the city is moving forward with a strategic plan that has 10 goals and Mr. Vance and I are working at how the city can achieve these goals by breaking them down.  And with this they have decided to have a new committee structure for next year and so far council is on board with these changes.  The Mayor went on regarding the breakdown of the new committees.  In discussions of the  reduction of staff in the Planning & Zoning and Building Department the city would like for the Tree Commission to take on more responsibilities particularly in landscape packages, requests for set backs, and mounding.  Rather than one staff member making decisions they would like a committee to do this and that’s where they would like the name of the Tree Commission to be changed to the Tree and Beautification Committee.  Some more discussions went on regarding the name change.   

 

           

             

  1. REPORTS.   
    1. Street Tree Report

 

Mr. Drobina asked if anyone had any questions regarding August, September and October’s reports.  Also, a copy of the fall tree planting list is attached. Mr. Drobina stated that he had used a different contractor named Winchester Gardens this time for the tree purchase and planting   Mr. Goodrich asked how this worked out.  Mr. Drobina replied that it worked out great. 

 

Ms. Shelts noticed that they received a copy of the November’s Safety Report.  Mr. Drobina commented that he wanted to start including this report every month because on the second page it talks about the Urban Forestry.   Ms. Shelts noticed that it talks about removing some of the vegetation along the banks of the park and arboretum.  Discussions went on regarding the locations of the removal and clean-up areas.

 

Ms. Shelts stated she would like to see a garden in Sycamore Park, with rocks and a water feature.  This would provide a tranquil place for residents to use.  She would like to use volunteers to do the work for this. The  Mayor commented that a church had just contacted him about doing some volunteer work within the city.  They have members who are plumbers, electricians and carpenters who could use these skills on a project. 

 

Ms. Shelts asked if the Tree City USA application was completed.  Ms. Perrine stated that it was finished.  Also, Ms. Shelts commented that they have a letter that needed to be signed by Tree Commission members tonight in regards to the 2011 Ash Removal & Canopy Restoration grant that the city is applying for.  Mr. Goodrich moved to approve to have the Tree Commission sign the letter regarding the 2011 Ash Removal & Canopy Restoration grant; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Ms. Shelts, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Malone, Mr. Goodrich voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.        

  

       5.    SCHEDULED MATTERS.

 

                  a.    Discussion of the proposal to rename Tree Commission to the Tree and

                         Beautification Committee.                                                           

 

Mr. McKinley stated that with some discussions they have had with the Mayor, City Manager and Mr. Drobina he didn’t feel that the Tree Commission would be losing but would be gaining more supervision of items  that in the past have not been a part of the commission’s scope.  Mr. Goodrich agreed that just being on the tree side you only see half the picture and changing the name would provide a more active situation.  Mr. Malone stated that he was not opposed to a name change he felt the most important thing has to do with what the actual proposed scope of activities they would be doing in the future and that the name would more accurately reflect this.  Mr. McKinley moved to approve the Tree Commission to be renamed to Tree and Beautification Committee; Mr. Goodrich seconded the motion. Ms. Shelts, Mr. Malone, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. McKinley voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.

   

    1.   Tree Preservation Update.

 

No comments.

 

                   c.      Arboretum.

 

Mr. Drobina stated that Winchester Gardens is researching to find different plaques for the trees in the arboretum.  He is trying to find something better than the existing ones, something that would hold up better to vandalism.  Ms. Shelts asked that when they write a new mission statement that a plaque could be placed in the arboretum with the new statement.  Ms. Shelts asked if the tall grass would still be the same.  Mr. Drobina stated that it would remain.  The Mayor commented that the City Engineer has been working on a safety grant for a new lane on State Route 256 and with this project comes a lot of landscape changes.  The landscape by the freeway ramps is the cities to do with and we are looking at planting some three season bulbs in that area and also wildflowers.  Maybe this is something we could also use down in the arboretum to define the area and not just be weeds. 

 

 

                   d.      Review and discussion regarding 2011 Ash Removal & Canopy Restoration

                            Grant Application.

 

Ms. Shelts commented thank you for applying for the grant.  Mr. Drobina stated that the grant is for the ash tree removal and is a match grant, meaning they would pay half and the city would pay the other half.  The cities half would come out of the urban forestry budget.  The areas we are looking at are in Melrose on Carron Circle, all of Shawnee Crossing and an entrance on Route 256 from Baltimore coming into the city.  Mr. Drobina commented if anyone had another area to consider to please let him know.  Mr. Malone replied what about the area up by the freeway where the emerald ash borer was found.  Mr. Drobina stated that was a good idea and he would take a look at that area.  Mr. Goodrich asked what they would do with the trees that are removed.  Mr. Drobina stated that the wood would be chipped up.  Mr. McKinley asked if council has to give its consent for the grant.  Mr. Drobina replied yes, that we need to have a resolution from Council and a letter from the Tree Commission supporting this grant.  

                             

  1. COMMUNICATION.  Ms. Shelts commented that included in the packet was some sample mission statements that she would like everyone to review for the next                                      meeting.  Also, some tree care information sheets that she would like the                                      Service Department to have.            

                                                                                                                    

7.   OTHER BUSINESS.  

 

      a.   Discussion regarding December 2010 Regularly Scheduled.

                  Ms. Shelts stated she was not going out of town for the holidays but noted she   knows a lot of people do and she would not object to not having a meeting in       December.   Mr. Goodrich asked if we had any outstanding business for the year.    Mr. Drobina stated that the Tree City USA application would be submitted       tomorrow.    Mr. McKinley questioned if they wanted to meet regarding the mission statement or if they wanted to wait until the reorganization meeting in           January.  Ms. Shelts moved to have December’s Tree Commission meeting             cancelled; Mr. Malone seconded the motion.  Mr. McKinley, Mr. Goodrich,          Mr. Malone and Ms. Shelts voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.        

                   

      8.   ADJOURNMENT.      Their being nothing further, Ms. Shelts moved to adjourn, Mr. McKinley seconded the motion.   Mr. Malone, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. Malone and Ms. Shelts  voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 4-0.  The Tree Commission adjourned at 7:14 P.M. on November 30, 2010

           

 

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

ATTEST:  _______________________

Edward Drobina, Service Manager