Arbor Commission Meeting Notice and Agenda for February 10, 2025

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

ARBOR COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

Monday, February 10, 2025, 8:15-10:15 AM*

AGENDA

*This meeting is rescheduled from February 3, 2025.

1. Call to Order (time by which item will be completed)
2. Adoption of Minutes of January 6, 2025 (8:20AM)
3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:30AM)
   1. Welcome of Michael Otzwirk, Community Tree Steward
   2. Current status of City tree-related PW funds
   3. Current status of Commission funds
   4. Other
4. Citizen Comments
5. Report from City Council (8:35AM)
   1. Tree Ordinance
   2. Arbor Day Proclamation Submission
   3. Other
6. Immediate Action Item Reports
   1. Commission membership (8:45AM)
   2. Contracting of Public Forest Management Plan (8:55AM)
   3. Review of 2025 Commission budget allocation
   4. Proposed 2026 Commission budget allocation
   5. Review of 2025 tree-related PW allocation (9:25AM)
   6. Proposed 2026 tree-related PW allocation (9:35AM)
7. Other Reports re Work in Progress (9:40AM)
   1. Project Management Team Report (M. Blackstone) (9:55AM)
   2. Comprehensive Forestry Management Plan Committee (M. Blackstone) (10:00AM)
   3. Other
8. Review/Adjustment of Overall Commission Schedule for 2025 (10:05AM)(* indicates that activity is completed)
   1. *December 2, 2024–Application due no later than this date for 2024 Tree City USA recognition

*Final Commission member feedback on draft Tree Ordinance by Nov 25

*First review by Council of Tree Ordinance in December

b. January—

1. Submit Arbor Day Proclamation/request to Mayor/Council
2. Proposed new Commission Appointments go to Council
3. Contracting of Public Forest Management Plan no later than Jan 31 (Delivery of Plan no later than October)
4. Community Tree Steward orientation

c. February—

           Commission Completion of Budget Proposals to City Council for 2025-2026

Public education program on Tree Risk Management (hybrid zoom/in-person)

d. March

1. Public Education/Volunteer Tree Steward training re Pruning
2. Ellsworth staff professional development:  Pruning
3. CTS research on rights of way for 2025 completed and private property negotiations have begun
4. March 31–Contracting of Invasive Pest Management Plan no later than March 31 (delivery of plan no later than October)

e. April–

1. First review of Comprehensive Forest Management Plan
2. Roll out of Ellsworth Tree Trust Fund–publicizing/celebrating inaugural donations
3. Placement of memorial stone for first memorial tree planting

1. [April–Landscaping of City Hall]
2. April 25–Arbor Day programming–Rolling out the Ellsworth Tree Trust Fund
3. Speaker:  James Kaechele, Development Director NYC Tree Trust

f. May–

1. ? May 15–Project Canopy Grant deadline (?focus on work in Public Forest)
2. May 18-24–Maine Arbor Week–80 trees planted by 2nd graders at Tree Nursery
3. Representation at Forestry Service Award Ceremony, Augusta

g. June/July—

1. Delivery of Ash Tree Inventory/Mapping no later than July 11.
2. Public consultation re Comprehensive Forestry Management Plan
3. Public Educational programming:  Invasive Tree Identification & Management

h. August 15–Community Tree Steward applications deadline

i. September 1–Celebrate Arbor Commission’s Second Birthday

j. October 15–Project Canopy Grant Commitments completed

1. Tree Inventory completed/updated
2. Public Forest Management Plan in hand
3. Invasive Pest Management Plan in hand
4. Tree Ordinance and Tree Warden Job Description approved
5. Comprehensive Forestry Management Plan reviewed/if not approved by Council

k. November –

1. November 5, 6, 7–U&CF grant plantings
2. November 15.  Submit Reports on PC grant and interim report on U&CF grant
3. November 26.  Giving Tuesday appeal for the gift of a living tree

l. December 1, 2025–Tree City USA 2025 Application

Rest

9. Member Comments/Other Business  (10:10AM)
10. Next Meeting:   March 3, 2025  8:15-10:15AM.
11. Adjournment (10:15AM)

Remote Meeting Information:

Topic: Arbor Commission
Time: Feb 3, 2025 08:15 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88604924043?pwd=JOweuctUIAfmUa99RlyoPop5IsEEuu.1

Meeting ID: 886 0492 4043
Passcode: 337189