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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-12-2015 Cemetery Advisory Board Final Minutes - City of Bozeman Sunset Hills Cemetery Advisory Board �j Thursday,November 12,2015 * _ * l:00 P.M. City Commission Room,City Hall 121 North Rouse Avenue Co. 0 Minutes Board Members: Katherine Ball: Present Katie Tennille: Present Don Derby: Present Russ Tuckerman: Present Lynn Flansaas: Present Marypat Zitzer: Present Jim Korth: Present Other Staff: Cyndy Andrus: Present Jennifer Jolliff. Present Mitch Overton: Present Melanie Eubank: Present Thom White: Present 1) Call the Meeting to Order: 1:00pm 2) Changes to Agenda:None 3) Approve meeting minutes: --August 27, 2015-Approved as corrected. [Yes: 7/No: 0] --October 22, 2015-Approved [Yes: 7/No: 0] 4) Public Comment:None 5) Disclosures:None 6) Forestry Dept Tree Inventory Update:Jennifer Jolliff --Jennifer prepared a handout that explained her findings so far of the tree inventory of the cemetery that she's been working on. She directed us to the City of Bozeman's website where we can access the ongoing computerized inventory on an interactive map with additional information on each tree. -- So far 541 trees have been inventoried;63.9%of which are a spruce variety;only 5.5%of ash varieties;most of the trees fairly large and at the end of their lifespan;most in good condition;value over$3million --Of the inventoried trees so far,only 3-4 are ash and would be affected by the Emerald Ash Borer so they are not a significant threat. --She recommended that more conifers be planted rather than deciduous to keep with the overall feel of the current coniferous forest but include some different species like the Black Hills spruce that would adapt better with drought and other issues we are currently facing. --This inventory information will help the forestry dept better manage maintenance needs such as keeping track of which trees need pruning,which may need to be removed and where to place new plantings. --Katherine Ball asked if there is a plan in place to replace or add more trees to the cemetery on a yearly basis. I; Thom White replied that there has been a plan in place with the transition when Vince Galli took over,it's more pro-active,and we are playing catch up.A lot of it depends on water,but we are waiting for the completion of the water resource plan so we know where our water is coming from. Based on the budget 10 new trees will be added every year and will gradually increase depending on the needs and the budget. 7) Veterans Wall Update—Don Derby 3 --The kiosk is still coming together with the help of a lot of people including some who are going to pay for it. They have$30,237.27 in the bank,and although some of the panels need to be replaced,Don said he won't do that until the kiosk is completed.That cost keeps going up and he wants to make sure it is taken care of first, but he expects there will be about$13,000 leftover when the kiosk is done. —A discussion of the need for a security camera for the wall and kiosk included where to put it and if it should be a working or faux camera. 8) Commission Report—Cyndy Andrus --She was impressed with the Urban Forestry plan presented today. She recognized the valuable asset we have in our trees and the urgency we face with regards to taking care of our trees and preparing for problems like the EAB. --Currently working on the Capital Improvement Plan and commented on the need for a new mower. Russ then included the request for a new entrance to the cemetery at Golf Way that could handle buses and handicap access for a more direct route to the Veterans Cemetery on the northeast side. Then Don asked about the kind of gate that will be used there,so there was a short discussion of ideas. 9) Superintendent Report Thom White --Thom responded to the need for a mower that Cyndy mentioned.It's on the 5 year plan and will need to be replaced.Other items they've requested in the CIP are two columbariums,a backhoe, and$200,000 for the irrigation project's first phase of production. He then explained the City Works program they started using the beginning of the month,how his staff is using it,what the complete cost of a job is,and the benefits they are seeing already.Mitch added that"it puts real numbers to what we are doing,and then you can compare this to the national average and where we should be at to provide the level of service to the community that we want to provide." --Jolene Reick,a landscape architect in Billings,has worked at the Yellowstone National Veterans Cemetery in Laurel.Thom asked for her suggestions;they were able to look at the cemetery;he told her we had $3000 for a design;and she will get back to him the end of the month with her ideas. --Mitch went on to explain how the commission all supported the project in July.The VVA made its first donation of$10,000 to the SWMT Veterans Cemetery Association for the creation of the cemetery with the plan for veterans providing for veterans.No tax payer dollars will be used for it. City will budget for the project to be done in phases.This will give the SWMT Veterans Cemetery Association a target for the first round of funding. 10)Director's Report---Mitch Overton --Renewed the user group contract for the Bridger Ski Foundation. We do not have a user group for the Bridger Biathlon Club,and they are working with BSF to see how they can work together.BSF wants to resurrect some ideas from the past like the storing of trail grooming equipment, snow making,a trail underpass at Highland Blvd, but the most immediate one is for adding pedestal solar lighting along 1 kilometers of trail to test it out. They will be meeting with Mitch and Thom the next day to discuss these ideas further. --There are 5 additional park signs in the works to be wrapped,and if they work well and can be seen easily, then the rest will be re-wrapped in the spring. 11)Next Meeting Date:February 11"', 1:00-3:00pm --Will request Anna Rosenberry from Finance to attend. 12)FYI/Discussion a. Katherine brought up a discussion about the plantings for the memorial garden that she and Marypat agreed to work on.They asked if they should plan for a path to a second bench or let the public determine a path that could be created later on. Their overall plan was to start high and go lower on the ends of the wall to soften the wall and give it a more dominant presence.They also asked for input as to the choice of plantings,either formal or informal.They stated the maintenance would be the responsibility of this board and suggested a plan over a 5 month period during the growing season. They would like to see the path defined so they can start the planting in the spring. 13)Adjournment: 2:47pm Russ Tuckerman, C airperson ate i Melanie Eubank, Recording Secretary Date , i l� i 4 j9Q}FI 8.