Arbor Commission Meeting Notice and Agenda for Monday, March 4th, 2024

ARBOR COMMISSION

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

Regular Meeting

Monday, March 4, 2024, 8:15-10:15 AM

AGENDA

1. Call to Order (timeline for completion of agenda topics)
2. Adoption of Minutes of February 5, 2024 (8:20AM)
3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:35AM). (T. Dyer, M. Condon)
   1. What is the budget workshop schedule? When should the Commission plan to present? 
   2. Other
4. Citizen Comments (8:45AM)
5. Report from City Council (C. Hanson) (9:00AM)
   1. Stage in hiring City Manager; restructuring of departments/staffing
   2. Other
6. Committee Reports
   1. Tree Ordinance/Tree Warden Job Description (I. Drummond, J. Lambert, T. White)—sign off on Tree Warden job description before going to City Manager/City Council for review (Everyone to have read & provided comments) (9:15AM)
   2. Arbor Commission 2024-2025 Budget Request to City Council (M. Blackstone, C. Hanson, T. White) see attached documents (9:30AM)
      1. Arbor Commission budget request (submitted on February 9)
      2. Arbor Commission requests re: City tree-related budgeting for 2024-2025 (submitted February 12).
      3. Coordination with Recreation Commission re: Parks & Recreation Department
   3. Project Canopy Application ( Blackstone, C. Hanson, T. White, M. Williams) (9:50AM)
      1. 1. As home to a HUD Opportunity Zone, Ellsworth is eligible to apply for the $200,000 (no match) Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant. After consultation with Jan Santerre who runs the program, it does not seem that data collection would be a strong focus for this, a focus on Card Brook, High Street area and adjacent low-income housing area could be strong.
         2. Adjudication of the above is likely to be competitive. We should plan to apply for the $20,000 Planning & Education Project Canopy Grant or the $15,000 Planting Grant (both require cash or in-kind match).
         3. Both grants will be adjudicated together this year (new deadline: May 15).
   4. Forest Management Plan ( Blackstone, T. Davis, S. Walczyk, J. Barnes, T. White) (9:55AM)

7. Arbor Day 2024 Public Activities/Observance? (our Commission’s first)
   1. April 26 (Maine Arbor Week 2024—May 19-25, 2024) (10:00 AM)
   2. Possible American Chestnut Film/Presentation/ School Planting??
   3. Land Conservation Group Planting??
8. Work Schedule for Information (Timelines, Deadlines) (10:10 AM)
   1. Budget Proposals for 2024-2025 (submitted; Council Workshop date?)
   2. Finalize Project Canopy Grant Applications (May 15, 2024)
   3. Revised Tree Ordinance (?)
      1. Tree Warden Job Description (March 6 to City Manager/Council)
   4. Submission of Arbor Day Proclamation to Mayor (proclaimed February 12, 2024)
   5. Submission of Tree City USA 2024 application (done)
   6. Community Tree Nursery Input on Ordering & Planting for 2024 (?)
   7. Finalize City of Ellsworth Forestry Management Plan (October 2024)
   8. Plan Public Education Programming for 2024-2025 (?July 2024)
   9. Arbor Day/Maine Arbor Week 2024 Activities (?)
   10. Other
9. Member Comments/Other Business
10. Next Meeting: April 1 or 8, 2024 8:15-10:15AM??
11.  Adjournment (10:15AM)

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