December 17, 2024 in Agenda Notices, Arbor Commission

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

ARBOR COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

Monday, January 6, 2024, 8:15-10:15 AM

AGENDA

 

  1. Call to Order (time by which item will be completed)
  2. Adoption of Minutes of October 7 and November 4, 2024 (8:20AM)
  3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:30AM)
    1. Report on CTS Supervisor trainings & CTS workspace
    2. Current status of City tree-related PW funds
    3. Timeline and process for upcoming budget cycle
    4. Setting up the Tree Trust
    5. Other
  4. Citizen Comments
  5. Report from City Council (8:35AM)
    1. Council response to Tree Ordinance
    2. Other
  6. Immediate Action Item Reports
    1. Commission membership (8:45AM)
    2. Contracting of Public Forest Management Plan (8:55AM)
    3. Contracting of Invasive Pest Management Plan (J. Lambert) (9:05AM)
    4. Community Tree Steward Orientation (9:15AM)
    5. Review/allocation of 2025 Commission and PW funds (9:25AM)
    6. Commission Budget Request (9:35AM)
    7. 2026 PW (9:45AM)
  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)
    1. December 2, 2024–Application due no later than this date for 2024 Tree City USA recognition
    2. January—
      1. Submit Arbor Day Proclamation/request to Mayor/Council Approval of new Tree Ordinance and Tree Warden Job Description
      2. Final Commission member feedback on draft by Nov 25
      3. First review by Council in December
      4. Proposed new Commission Appointments go to Council
      5. Contracting of Public Forest Management Plan no later than Jan 31
      6. Delivery of Plan no later than October
      7. Community Tree Steward orientation
    3. February–? Completion of Budget Proposals to City Council for 2025-2026 Public education program on Tree Risk Management (hybrid zoom/in-person)
    4.  March
      1. Public Education/Volunteer Tree Steward training re Pruning
      2. Ellsworth staff professional development:  Pruning
      3. CTS research on right 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
      5. Delivery of Ash Tree Inventory/Mapping no later than July 11
      6. Delivery of Plan no later than October
    5.  April—
      1. First review of Comprehensive Forest Management PlaN
      2. Roll out of Ellsworth Tree Trust–publicizing/celebrating inaugural donations
      3. Placement of memorial stone for first memorial tree planting
      4. [April–Landscaping of City Hall]
      5. April 25–Arbor Day programming–Rolling out the Ellsworth Tree Trust
        1. Speaker:  James Kaechele, Development Director NYC Tree Trust
    6.  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
    7.  June/July—
      1. Public Educational programming:  Invasive Tree Identification & Management
      2. Public consultation re Comprehensive Forestry Management Plan
    8. August 15–Community Tree Steward applications deadline
    9. September 1–Celebrate Arbor Commission’s First Birthday
    10. October 15–Project Canopy Grant Commitments completed
      1. Tree Inventory completed/updated
      2. Public Forest Management Plan in hand
      3. 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
    11. 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
    12. December 1, 2025–Tree City USA 2025 Application
      1. Rest
  9. Member Comments/Other Business  (10:10AM)
  10. Next Meeting:   January 6, 2025  8:15-10:15AM
  11. Adjournment (10:15AM)