CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
TREE COMMISSION
CITY HALL, 100
LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY, MARCH
10, 2004
REGULAR MEETING
5:30 P.M.
3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS. No community comments.
4. REPORTS.
A. Street Tree Report
Mr. Ellis said a developer wanted to plant ash trees and asked whether we should continue to plant them because of the insect. Mr. Malone suggested it might be best to substitute something else until they find out a little more about the borer. Mr. Ellis stated he already ordered ash trees for the spring planting to try to match up roads with the same species and asked whether that was something he should try to fade out. Mr. Malone stated that we should start to phase in other trees but if some have already been ordered and you need to finish off some areas, you should go ahead and do that.
Mr. Malone asked which areas are included in the spring planting. Mr. Ellis stated that the spring planting is all for new developments. Mr. Ellis stated that we were going to wait and see what money was left over to go back to the older areas. Ms. Cleary asked if there were any older neighborhoods that should be focused on first? Ms. Cleary stated Pickerington Meadows was finished. Mr. Malone stated that Shadow Oaks was done very early and also Simsbury. Mr. Ellis stated that Cherry Hill is finished.
5. SCHEDULED MATTERS.
A. Tree Preservation Update
Mr. Malone stated he has been unable so far to get together with a representative from Fox Glen and Sycamore. Mr. Malone stated that there were a few stakes and cutting has begun at the small wood lot just east of Diley, south of Preston Trails, north of Diley’s old house. Mr. Malone stated that it didn’t look like anything was going on at Sycamore on the ridge. Mr. Malone stated that the area going south to Busey, some of those trees may come out if they put sewer lines through there going to Canal Winchester and ultimately the development is supposed to go all the way to Busey. Ms. Cleary asked if he had seen any plans for the area. Mr. Malone stated that Mr. Schultz had given him plans that showed just generally where streets and buildings would be but didn’t show what would happen with the trees. Mr. Malone stated that he isn’t sure how our tree preservation ordinance works, but these subdivisions may have been approved a year or two back and that we may not be able to hold them to tree replacements even though they haven’t actually started the work. Mr. Malone asked Mr. Drobina to check into that. Mr. Malone stated that Mr. Wiseman said he would get plans to him for the Diley Relocation and widening projects. Mr. Drobina stated that he tried to get you the Phase III plans for this meeting but the plans aren’t complete as of yet. Mr. Drobina said he would try to get them to him as soon as possible or by the next meeting.
Mr. Malone stated last weeks paper talked about the school board discussing improvements for Diley-Long intersection and it’s written to sound like some of these plans are done and waiting for public hearings and money to proceed. Mr. Drobina stated that the school had to sign some papers that they know that there is going to be some land of theirs taken for right-of-way and that’s what it is about. Mr. Drobina stated that they haven’t approved any plans yet but they know they’re going to be taking some of that property. Mr. Malone stated that the paper made it sound like other parts were a lot further along in the process. Mr. Drobina stated that we do have the Phase II set of plans. Mr. Drobina stated that Phase I was already completed. He stated that Phase I was at Drug Mart. Mr. Drobina stated that Phase II is the widening of 256 down to Drug Mart. Mr. Drobina stated that Phase III is from Drug Mart on back. Mr. Drobina stated that he would make a copy of the site plan and leave it at City Hall or bring it by your house.
B. Arboretum.
Mr. Malone stated we should start talking about plans for Arbor Day. Mr. Malone asked if anything was found out about the landscaping that needs to be done. Mr. Drobina stated that he talked with Bernie from Keller Farms and Bernie stated there are a set of plans and that he would get them to him. Mr. Drobina stated that what it entails is plantings on the south side of the bridge.
Ms. Cleary asked about a mound of dirt down there. Mr. Ellis stated that he would try to get rid of that. Ms. Cleary stated that planting different colored wildflowers would be nice or we were going to do a butterfly garden. Ms. Cleary stated that the tiered steps was the primary thing that they wanted to get taken care of and the flowers for the dedication service. Mr. Malone stated that the dedication would be a separate day from Arbor Day. Ms. Cleary stated they also talked about birdhouses. Mr. Malone stated when they get the plans from Keller Farms they can look at the cost and prioritize what they want. Mr. Malone asked Ms. Cleary which tiered steps she was talking about, the steps leading up to the bridge on the south side or the larger area on the north coming off the ramp. Ms. Cleary stated that on the Arboretum side they’d talked about natural tiering on the north side. Ms. Cleary stated that the south side of the bridge they had thought was supposed to be completed last year. Ms. Hurley stated she had thought Parks was supposed to take care of the south side of the bridge. Mr. Malone thought Steve Carr was taking care of that in his budget. Ms. Cleary suggested Mr. Drobina talk with Steve Carr and Keller Farms to find out what’s going on with that.
Mr. Malone asked Ms. Cleary if she had a girl scout troop in mind for the Arbor Day Celebration. Ms. Cleary stated that she did have a couple of troops in mind and would follow up on that. Ms. Cleary stated that the troop present the flag, we talk about Tree City USA, and talk about the arboretum, and dedicate the tree to somebody if they have someone in mind. Ms. Hurley asked if we had set a date for the dedication of the Arboretum. Mr. Malone stated we haven’t set a date for the dedication of the Arboretum. Ms. Cleary stated the Arbor Day celebration is usually set for the last Friday in April which would be the 30th, and it’s usually set for 7:00 PM. Ms. Cleary stated that we would also need the proclamation.
6. COMMUNICATION
A. Tree Brochure
Ms. Hurley pointed out a typo “pests” should be “pets” that needs corrected. Mr. Malone stated that Mr. Sabatino’s name would need to come off the Tree Commission. Mr. Drobina stated the last line is missing from a paragraph. Ms. Cleary stated that some of the fonts are different and should all be the same size.
Ms. Cleary asked if the title is “Trees not Recommended” or “Street Trees not Recommended”. Mr. Malone stated it would be street trees because of all the different varieties. Mr. Malone stated that under Permit to Plant a line at the end should suggest contacting the arborist if they have any questions.
Mr. Drobina stated that he would have a draft done and mail the brochures to the Tree Commission members so they have time to look it over before the next meeting. Mr. Malone suggested that on the front of the brochure “A Tree City USA” should be changed to “A Tree City USA Community”.
B. Web Site
Mr. Drobina stated that the tree brochure will be put on the web site when it is finalized.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Malone looked over the Urban Forestry Budget and asked Mr. Ellis how much was being spent on the spring planting. Mr. Drobina stated approximately $13,000.00 and we are planting the trees ourselves to save money. Mr. Malone referenced the 60,000 figure in the budget and wanted to know how much of that is dedicated to certain subdivisions. He stated he wants to make sure they get planted since we collect money from subdivisions and we need to know what is extra and what has been paid by the developers. Mr. Drobina stated he would try to find a breakdown of that.
Mr. Drobina stated that the suggested planting of trees in the open area of Shawnee Crossing is not owned by the city. Mr. Drobina stated that at one time the city was planning on taking that pond as another park but at this time they have not done that.
Mr. Drobina stated that he talked with Councilman Wisniewski about the Hawthorne tree and he has no problem with the tree as long as it is kept trimmed above the sidewalk.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being nothing further, Ms. Hurley moved to adjourn; Ms. Cleary seconded the motion. Mr. Malone, Ms. Cleary, and Ms. Hurley voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The Tree Commission adjourned at 6:30 P.M. on March 10, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
___________________________________
Diana Fuller, Administrative Assistant
_____________________________________
Ed Drobina, Acting Service Department Director