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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-14 Tree Advisory Board Minutes MINUTES OF THE TREE ADVISORY BOARD, OCTOBER 15, 2014 11:00 A.M. CITY SHOPS TRAINING ROOM BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Elisa Boyd, Chairperson Scott Makoutz Lessa Racow Bill Hoch Patrick Cross Jeff Krauss—Commission Liaison BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Jennifer Jolliff- Forestry Doreen Olean, Recording Secretary 1. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Boyd at 11:00 a.m. 2. There were no changes to the meeting agenda. 3. Approve September 17, 2014 meeting minutes. 2:15- Board member Makoutz moved to approve the September 17, 2014 minutes as submitted. Board member Hoch seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Public Comment—No public comment. 5. New Business a) Urban Forestry Management Plan—2:46 Board member Makoutz reported that they are in the early stages of updating the current plan. Objectives and goals of the plan are to raise the awareness for the urban forest throughout the community and to the public, educate them to the benefits of the urban forest, and raise support in the public perception of the urban forestry department. The public will be heavily engaged in developing the plan. The recommendations from this plan will help address the funding that will be needed for the plan and this will be presented to the City Commission. The plan will create a higher level of efficiency in maintaining the urban forest. A goal of this plan will also be to create an urban forester position. This position will implement the goals and objectives, implement the efficiencies, and raise the level of awareness and public perception of the Urban Forestry Department. On October 20th the City Commission will be made aware of the plan. There will be between four& six public meetings held to engage and educate the public and also get public Page 1 of 3 MINUTES OF THE TREE ADVISORY BOARD, OCTOBER 15, 2014 input to how this plan will be developed. These recommendations will be made to the budgeting committee in February and ultimately presented to the City Commission after this. Work has been done on who the stakeholders will be. Meetings have been held with Parks& Recreation Director, Economic Development Director, Urban Forestry staff, Montana DNRC, MSU, City Sustainability Coordinator, Bozeman School District Director of Facilities and a couple more. Board member Makoutz asked the Tree Advisory Board members how they can be involved and what kind of role they would like to play in the development of this plan, in the public meetings and in the presentations to the City Commission. Topics at the public meetings would include Emerald Ash Borer; urban forest; goals&objectives for the urban forest; how the Bozeman urban forest affects the lives of the citizenry; strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The plan will be finalized in March or April of 2015. 11:40—Board member Racow feels the plan is necessary. What will happen when the Emerald Ash Borer arrives in Bozeman? A clear cut mission plan might be important. Clarity between what is a street tree plan versus an urban forestry plan. Maybe the City could have some sort of a cost share program to treat or cut down diseased trees. 14:08—Mayor Krauss mentioned trees and watering needs and how climate change affects trees. Need to incorporate both new and old sections of Bozeman. Open spaces need to be addressed as well as the tree canopy. The board was cautioned that the Urban Forestry Plan is not a part of the Commission's top 25 list. Private tree farms and nurseries need to be involved. Safety issues with trees are important. 20:30—Chairperson Boyd suggested that Gallatin Valley Land Trust would be a good contact, which would include some of the informal tree spaces. 21:29—Forestry staff,Jolliff informed the board that the department has inventoried about 10,000 trees. This project is about half way complete. The parks and cemetery trees have not been inventoried yet, as well as, a few areas in town. Most of the street trees are complete. Jennifer wondered if there would be something in the plan addressing safety code enforcement. Trees that are not approved are often planted in the sight triangle. 34:41—Board member Hoch wondered if there would be involvement in the plan for preventative maintenance by structural pruning on a regular basis. 39:22- Board member Makoutz asked if the board would be interested in being involved in the public meetings. It was felt that at least one member attend and more members if available. Evenings meetings would be easier for people to attend. Neighborhood meetings and homeowner associations might be a way to access the public. 42:10—Board member Hoch requested a copy of the draft plan and the objectives of the plan. Page 2 of 3 MINUTES OF THE TREE ADVISORY BOARD,OCTOBER 15, 2014 43:46—Forester Jolliff handed out an updated Tree Guide. The guide has also been changed online. The board was asked to look over the guide and bring suggestions to the next meeting. 6. Old Business a) Cost share program, 2014 175 trees have been ordered for the cost share 2015 program. 47:30—Ms.Jolliff stated that the minutes from the last meeting reflected that there is a $200 limit on the tree voucher program. She clarified that there is no limit. 7. The next board meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th at 11:00 a.m. in the City Shops Training Room. Board member Racow motioned to adjourn the meeting at 11:52 a.m. Board member Makoutz seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Elisa Boyd, Chairperson ATTEST: Doreen Olean, Board Secretary PREPARED BY: c S Doreen Olean, Board Secretary Approved on Page 3 of 3