HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-16 Tree Board Minutes BOZEMANMT
Forestry
Bozeman Tree Advisory Board
Wednesday, August 24, 2016, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gallatin Room, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Avenue
Minutes
Board Members Present:
Patrick Cross, Chair Scott Makoutz
Bill Hoch Rebekah VanWieren
Staff Present:
Mitch Overton
Vince Galli
Melanie Eubank
A. Call meeting to order: 11:00 a.m.
B. Changes to the agenda: None
C. Public comment: None
D.Approve May 4, 2016 meeting minutes: Motioned and approved. [Yes: 4]
E. Old Business
1. UFMP Status update (following the annual city budgeting meeting)
-- Mitch reported that for the most part the budget was approved. However the
contractual labor was reduced from the original $30K, down to $15K. It isn't certain how
much of the $60K contractual labor budget will be cut for the following year.A discussion
continued about ways to use the $15K for this year: how to get the most work done; the
idea of using the services on a visible, high-impact activity that could also be covered by
the media with the focus of tax-dollars-at-work; make an impression with the public with
signage; and how the board and the public can influence decisions to keep the $60K in the
next budget.
-- Vince added that the plan would be for the contracted services to focus on the mature
trees in the older parts of town that have the large, established 50-60 foot trees. Most of
the contracted work will be in the spring when the trees have leafed out.
--Would like to work on a media plan for promoting the contractual service's budget at
the next meeting.
--Vince brought up the problem of oyster scales on the trees and how he budgeted for
private contractors to help manage it with chemical applications. This will be another way
of using the contractual labor in the future.
--As a board, could increase public involvement, create regular press releases, and brain
storm for educational opportunities and publicity on those issues, such as the oyster scales
problem.
2. Rose Park update:
-- The park is looking good. One or two oak trees replaced, but tree bags on the new trees
- poplars and conifers. A few are being beaten up by the discs.
--Vince added that the disc golf user group wants to add more trees through fund-raising.
With the grant money, bought plaques to add to the totems and a giant kiosk with a map
and tree species listed.
--A disc golf tournament is scheduled for Sept.
3.Arbor Day Celebration
-- Mitch said this went well and got some good press. Involving the kids and the nearby
elementary school really helped. On a side note, Patrick added that 41h graders get in the
national parks for free.
4. Ideas for the board's next "community engagement" project (ie. School outreach, fruit
trees, tree maps, and more)
F. New Business
1. Plan a review of tree ordinances in Bozeman Municipal Code (Ch.16, Art. 5)
in which the board will summarize and discuss sections of the code in coming meetings,
providing recommended changes to the City Commission at the end of the review. (See
attachment)
-- Patrick suggested breaking it into sections. Could start with staff input on areas they
would recommend updating. Mitch replied that he expects a general update, including
specific dates as a reference, when it could reference the UFMP or tree guide. He expects
this review will to have agree with other parts of the code we aren't reviewing, such as the
Unified Development code.
This suggestion started a discussion of how the tree ordinances overlap with other
department's codes, the use of the tree codes for inspections for example and what to
watch for.
-- Patrick stated the assignment for the next meeting would be to read through Division 2
and make notes to look at further.
2. Patrick asked about filling the open board member position and what the process is to
move forward. Some recruiting was needed. Scott had a name he said he could contact, but
there weren't any applications currently on file. Patrick asked everyone to give it some
thought and come with some names.
G. Schedule Next Meeting: November 161h at 11:00 in the Gallatin Room [Rebekah said she
teaches until 11:00.]
I.Adjourn - 12:00 p.m.
Tree Board meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability that requires assistance,please contact
our ADA coordinator, Chuck Winn, at 587-2307(TDD 582-2301).
Patrick Cross, Chair bate Melanie Eubank,Recording Secretary Date